Safety Recommendation: 2022-014
Safety Recommendation Text
2022-014: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority review the use of magnetic tape flight data recorders used in aircraft operated by UK Air Operator Certificate holders and establish if there is a practical way to comply with the ICAO requirement to cease their use.
CAA latest update
A review of regulations CAT.IDE.A.190 and CAT.IDE.H.190 (Compliant with EUROCAE ED-112) for flight data recorders has been carried out. A policy mandate has been submitted to the UK CAA policy department to update both regulations with an additional line (f) to include:
- (f) By 01 January 20XX at the latest, the FDR shall record on means other than magnetic tape or magnetic wire.
This will bring both regulations in line with the CVR, CAT.IDE.A.185 and to comply with the ICAO requirement. The CAA Policy department has not been able yet to define a definite date for that policy review to take place.
As previously stated in the October 2022 response, the CAA carried out a survey of prominent UK operators, both fixed wing and rotorcraft and none of the responses returned indicate the use of Magnetic tape Flight Data recorders.
Next update due
01 April 2024
Safety Recommendation: 2022-015
Safety Recommendation Text
2022-015: It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority require that magnetic tape flight data recorders, used in aircraft operated by UK Air Operator Certificate holders, comply with the Civil Aviation Authority Specification No. 10, regarding the error rate requirements, by checking the complete recording rather than by undertaking a sample check.
CAA latest update
The CAA have reviewed CAP 731 which details the UK requirements for maintenance of Flight data recorders.
A review and amendment of this publication has now taken place with the amendment of the CAP now complete. This amended version of CAP 731 has now been sent for publication.
This amended version captures the updated maintenance requirements within Chapter 7, (FDR System Serviceability and readout) within the chapter “Establishing the Limitations of
the readout”.
Chapter 8, General requirements for a readout, retains the requirements of Specification No. 10 or ED-55 / ED-112 as applicable to be included in the procedures for staff training.
Next update due
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