Compact, proven & future-ready flight recorders
Our award-winning line of compact, lightweight cockpit voice and flight data recorders has been designed to meet all current and anticipated regulations (including 25-hour voice / datalink recording) and are deployed globally. These flight recorders can be customized quickly and can help reduce LRU count by integrating additional functionality into the recorder. Added functionality includes image recording, encryption, and additional data for structural and monitoring programs.
The History of Flight Data Recorders
Flight recorders have come a long way in the last sixty years. This video looks at the transformation of this technology throughout history.
Fortress Flight Recorders Brochure
Curtiss-Wright has been producing proven flight recorders for over 60 years. Our current Fortress product line meets all current and anticipated regulations and has several models to quickly meet the needs of a new or retrofit program. Read our Fortress brochure to learn more about the range of models currently available.
| Product Name | Product Image | Combined CVR/FDR | Datalink | Airborne Image Recorder (AIR) | Data Acquisition | Product Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Recorder Services |  |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
| Fortress 757 Multi Purpose Flight Recorder |  |
CVR: 25 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | 25 hours | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | AIR - HD 1080p resolution, 4 FPS via 100Mbps Ethernet, CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, DLR - ARINC 429,FDR - ARINC 717 at rates of 64, 128, 256, 512, 1,024, 2,048 and 4,096 words persecond,Tri-axial accelerometer and rotor tacho recording | |
| Fortress CSR Combined Voice and Flight Data Recorder |  |
CVR: 25 hours, 4 channel, FDR: 25 hours | 25 | None | CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, FDR - 8 ARINC 429, 12 DC differential, 15 AC/DC differential, 2 tacho, 6 accelerometer and 64 discrete inputs | |
| Fortress Data Acquisition Flight Recorder (DAFR) Voice and Flight Recorder |  |
CVR: 25 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | 25 hours | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | AIR - HD 1080p resolution, 16FPS via 100Mbps Ethernet, CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, DLR - ARINC 664 p7, Up to 4 ARINC 429 or Dual redundant ARINC 664 p7 | |
| Fortress OEM |  |
CVR: 2 hours, 4 channels | 25 hours | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | AIR - HD 1080p resolution, 16FPS via 100Mbps Ethernet, FDR- ARINC 717 at rates up to 4,096 words per second or Configurable data acquisition via network based sensor array | |
| Fortress HUMS | |
CVR: 25 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | 25 hours | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | FDR- ARINC 717 at rates up to 4,096 words per second or Configurable data acquisition via network based sensor array, HUMS - Distributed network of active sensors configurable per installation | |
| Fortress Crash Protected Memory Module |  |
CVR: 25 hours, 4 channels | 25 hours | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | Industry leading storage capacity, Partitioning and segregation to ED-112A | |
| MPFR Multi Purpose Flight Recorder |  |
CVR: 2 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | None | None | CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, FDR - ARINC 717 at rates of 64, 128, 256 and 512 words per second | |
| EMPFR Enhanced Multi Purpose Flight Recorder |  |
CVR: 2 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | 2 hours | None | CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channel, sDLR - ARINC 429, high or low speed, FDR - ARINC 717 at rates of 64, 128, 256 and 512 words per second | |
| DAFR Data Acquisition Flight Recorder | |
CVR: 2 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | None | None | CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, FDR - 3 x ARINC 429, 6 x discrete, 4 x analog, 1 x accelerometer, 1 x tacho | |
| Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorder System |  |
CVR: 2 hours, 4 channels, FDR: 25 hours | None | None | CVR - analog audio, 1 area mic, 3 crew channels, Extensive additional data acquisition via FDAU, FDR - ARINC 717 at rates of 64, 128, 256 and 512 words per second | |
| EFDMU - Flexible ARINC-600 Data Management Solutions |  |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Extensive | |
| High Definition Internal Avionics Camera |  |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 2 hours, 2 channels (needs external ethernet switch to support 2 into 1 requirement) | Not Applicable | |
| CPQAR Cockpit Panel Quick Access Recorder |  |
None | None | None | ARINC 573/717/429 FDR compatible | |
| PGS Replay and Analysis Software |  |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
| FDAU - Flight Data Management Unit |  |
Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Extensive |
Mandatory Parameters and Data Storage Requirements for Flight Data Recorders
This white paper examines what parametric data regulatory bodies require flight data recorders (FDR) to store, how data is processed for FDRs, and what features FDRs need to meet current and future needs.
Flight Recorder Delivers SWaP-C Benefits for Legacy Avionics Systems
The BAE Systems T1 Hawk aircraft used an accident data recorder (ADR), which provided parametric flight data recording functionality, acquired a standard data stream, and recorded it in a hardened enclosure designed to survive crash tests defined in the 1980s. This enclosure protected a magnetic tape-based media operating on an endless loop principle. Read the case study to learn how a new flight recorder was retrofitted and the benefits that resulted.
Why is it so Difficult to Design a Flight Recorder?
Many organizations want to develop a flight data recorder (FDR) to build in-country expertise and create custom solutions easily. This white paper details the requirements for an FDR and how they are built.