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The data recorded by a flight data recorder is used for accident investigation,

as well as for analyzing air safety issues, material degradation and engine

performance. Due to their importance in investigating accidents, these

government regulated devices are carefully engineered and stoutly constructed to

withstand the force of a high speed impact and the heat of an intense fire. Contrary

to the "black box" reference, the exterior of the FDR is coated with heat-resistant

bright orange paint for high visibility in wreckage, and the unit is usually mounted

in the aircraft's tail section, where it is more likely to survive a severe crash.

Following an accident, the recovery of the FDR is usually a high priority for the

investigating body, as analysis of the recorded parameters can often detect and

identify causes or contributing factors.

To date, these recorders are exclusively contained on board within the aircraft

and there is 'no remote access' to this most critical data in the event of destruction,

loss, or vandalism of these black boxes. This invention addresses that problem.

II. THE PROBLEM

DISCUSSION:

The data contained in the black box is urgently needed by aviation

investigators and authorities in order to understand what happened to a flight

when the aircraft crashes to land or sea. This being the case, there must be a

mechanism in place to preserve, and access this data on a real-time basis, and

also to have copies of this data in the event the aircraft is lost, or even vandalized,

or in the event of theft. Thus, the black box data is so important that its data

cannot be simply contained within the aircraft, but must be networked in order that

this data may be duplicated, and/or accessed in the event of a crash of the aircraft.

Docket No. : Ticket 2180/215 2