USB stick data recording, blackbox-like housing?

[steveinindy]

Thanks Bob. That is a really interesting system there although, as you say, rather steep.

[Bob Dingley]

Steep it is. But I know couple of folks that could build one like it. The Audio/Visual feature is a new one on me. Ours didn't have it. I hear that the auto racing folks use it and it has some ag tractor uses. That has me bewildered.

They were regarded as "snitches" from the first installations. Proven when a pilot was called in and his ferry flight was replayed for him. It was pointed out where he deviated 3 miles off course. It showed him tickling Vne at 200 ft MSL. This was where he pulled 2.1 G, 45 deg roll & 25 deg nose up. Coords plotted out to some lakeside camps. He got 30 days off.

[steveinindy]

he Audio/Visual feature is a new one on me. Ours didn't have it. I hear that the auto racing folks use it and it has some ag tractor uses. That has me bewildered.

There's been talk of cockpit video recording for years. There was a fair amount of resistance from the various pilot groups over concerns that the images could be leaked to the press or posted online, etc. I think it's a great idea although if I were to design a recorder it would have more data channels than what that has but then again that has a lot to do with my background as a crash survivability researcher so a lot of the data would not seem to make much sense to someone who isn't aware of the reasons for it being recorded.

They were regarded as "snitches" from the first installations.

That's the other reason why I think a lot of folks in the GA community are so hesitant to include even a cheap non-TSO'ed recorder on board. They view it as some form of invasion of privacy although I honestly think if we had them it would show that at least some of the crashes that are now put down to pilot error would turn out to be mechanical in nature, especially in the homebuilt community.