817 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 29.1457 

§ 29.1457

Cockpit voice recorders. 

(a) Each cockpit voice recorder re-

quired by the operating rules of this 
chapter must be approved, and must be 
installed so that it will record the fol-
lowing: 

(1) Voice communications trans-

mitted from or received in the rotor-
craft by radio. 

(2) Voice communications of flight 

crewmembers on the flight deck. 

(3) Voice communications of flight 

crewmembers on the flight deck, using 
the rotorcraft’s interphone system. 

(4) Voice or audio signals identifying 

navigation or approach aids introduced 
into a headset or speaker. 

(5) Voice communications of flight 

crewmembers using the passenger loud-
speaker system, if there is such a sys-
tem, and if the fourth channel is avail-
able in accordance with the require-
ments of paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this sec-
tion. 

(6) If datalink communication equip-

ment is installed, all datalink commu-
nications, using an approved data mes-
sage set. Datalink messages must be 
recorded as the output signal from the 
communications unit that translates 
the signal into usable data. 

(b) The recording requirements of 

paragraph (a)(2) of this section may be 
met— 

(1) By installing a cockpit-mounted 

area microphone, located in the best 
position for recording voice commu-
nications originating at the first and 
second pilot stations and voice commu-
nications of other crewmembers on the 
flight deck when directed to those sta-
tions; or 

(2) By installing a continually ener-

gized or voice-actuated lip microphone 
at the first and second pilot stations. 

The microphone specified in this para-
graph must be so located and, if nec-
essary, the preamplifiers and filters of 
the recorder must be so adjusted or 
supplemented, that the recorded com-
munications are intelligible when re-
corded under flight cockpit noise con-
ditions and played back. The level of 
intelligibility must be approved by the 
Administrator. Repeated aural or vis-
ual playback of the record may be used 
in evaluating intelligibility. 

(c) Each cockpit voice recorder must 

be installed so that the part of the 

communication or audio signals speci-
fied in paragraph (a) of this section ob-
tained from each of the following 
sources is recorded on a separate chan-
nel: 

(1) For the first channel, from each 

microphone, headset, or speaker used 
at the first pilot station. 

(2) For the second channel, from each 

microphone, headset, or speaker used 
at the second pilot station. 

(3) For the third channel, from the 

cockpit-mounted area microphone, or 
the continually energized or voice-ac-
tuated lip microphones at the first and 
second pilot stations. 

(4) For the fourth channel, from— 
(i) Each microphone, headset, or 

speaker used at the stations for the 
third and fourth crewmembers; or 

(ii) If the stations specified in para-

graph (c)(4)(i) of this section are not re-
quired or if the signal at such a station 
is picked up by another channel, each 
microphone on the flight deck that is 
used with the passenger loudspeaker 
system if its signals are not picked up 
by another channel. 

(iii) Each microphone on the flight 

deck that is used with the rotorcraft’s 
loudspeaker system if its signals are 
not picked up by another channel. 

(d) Each cockpit voice recorder must 

be installed so that— 

(1)(i) It receives its electrical power 

from the bus that provides the max-
imum reliability for operation of the 
cockpit voice recorder without jeopard-
izing service to essential or emergency 
loads. 

(ii) It remains powered for as long as 

possible without jeopardizing emer-
gency operation of the rotorcraft. 

(2) There is an automatic means to 

simultaneously stop the recorder and 
prevent each erasure feature from func-
tioning, within 10 minutes after crash 
impact; 

(3) There is an aural or visual means 

for preflight checking of the recorder 
for proper operation; 

(4) Whether the cockpit voice re-

corder and digital flight data recorder 
are installed in separate boxes or in a 
combination unit, no single electrical 
failure external to the recorder may 
disable both the cockpit voice recorder 
and the digital flight data recorder; 
and 

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