Easy Access Rules for Air Operations

No

Parameter

Range

Sampling interval in seconds

Accuracy limits (sensor input compared to FDR readout)

Recommended resolution in readout

Remarks

1a

or

Time

24 hours

4

± 0.125 % per hour

1 second

(a) UTC time preferred where available.

1b

Relative time count

0 to 4 095

4

± 0.125 % per hour

(b) Counter increments every 4 seconds of system operation.

2

Pressure altitude

-1 000 ft to maximum certificated altitude of aircraft +5 000 ft

1

±100 ft to ±700 ft

Refer to Table II-A.3 of EUROCAE Document ED-112

5 ft

Should be obtained from air data computer when installed.

3

Indicated airspeed or calibrated airspeed

50 kt or minimum value installed pitot static system to Max VS0

Max VS0 to 1.2 VD

1

±5 %

±3 %

1 kt (0.5 kt recommended)

Should be obtained from air data computer when installed.

VS0: stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration VD design diving speed

4

Heading

360 degrees

1

±2 degrees

0.5 degrees

5

Normal acceleration

-3 g to +6 g

0.125

1 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of 5 %

0.004 g

The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds.

6

Pitch attitude

±75 degrees

0.25

±2 degrees

0.5 degrees

7

Roll attitude

±180 degrees

0.5

±2 degrees

0.5 degrees

8

Manual radio transmission keying

Discrete

1

-

-

Preferably each crew member but one discrete acceptable for all transmissions provided that the replay of a recording made by any required recorder can be synchronised in time with any other required recording to within 1 second.

9a

Propulsive thrust/power on each engine

Full range

Each engine each second

±2 %

0.2 % of full range

Sufficient parameters, e.g. EPR/N, or Torque/NP as appropriate to the particular engine must be recorded to determine power in both normal and reverse thrust. A margin for possible overspeed should be provided.

9b

Flight crew compartment thrust/power lever position

Full range

Each lever each second

±2 % or sufficient to determine any gated position

2 % of full range

Parameter 9b must be recorded for aeroplanes with non-mechanically linked cockpit-engine controls, otherwise recommended.

10

Trailing edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection

Full range or each discrete position

2

±3° or as pilot’s indicator and sufficient to determine each discrete position

0.5 % of full range

Flap position and cockpit control may be sampled at 4-second intervals so as to give a data point each 2 seconds.

11

Leading edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection

Full range or each discrete position

1

±3° or as pilot’s indicator and sufficient to determine each discrete position

0.5 % of full range

Left and right sides, or flap position and cockpit control may be sampled at 2-second intervals so as to give a data point each second.

12

Thrust reverser status

Turbo-jet: stowed, in transit and reverse

Turbo-prop: reverse

Each reverser each second

-

-

Turbo-jet: 2 discretes enable the 3 states to be determined

Turbo-prop: 1 discrete

13

Ground spoiler and/or speed brake selection

Full range or each discrete position

0.5

±2º unless higher accuracy uniquely required

0.2 % of full range

Sufficient to determine use of the cockpit selector and the activation and positions of the surfaces

14

Outside air temperatures or total air temperature

-50°C to +90°C or available sensor range

2

±2ºC

0.3ºC

15

Autopilot/Autothrottle/AFCS mode and engagement status

A suitable combination of discretes

1

-

-

Discretes should show which systems are engaged and which primary modes are controlling the flight path and speed of the aircraft.

16

Longitudinal acceleration (Body axis)

± 1 g

0.25

±1.5 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of ±5 %

0.004 g

The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds.

17

Lateral acceleration

±1 g

0.25

±1.5 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of ±5 %

0.004 g

The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds.

18

Primary flight controls, control surface positions and/or* pilot input

Full range

1

±2º unless higher accuracy uniquely required

0.2 % of full range

*For aeroplanes that can demonstrate the capability of deriving either the control input or control movement (one from the other) for all modes of operation and flight regimes, the ‘or’ applies. For aeroplanes with non-mechanical control systems, the ‘and’ applies.

Where the input controls for each pilot can be operated independently, both inputs will need to be recorded.

For multiple or split surfaces, a suitable combination of inputs is acceptable in lieu of recording each surface separately.

18a

Pitch axis

0.25

18b

Roll axis

0.25

18c

Yaw axis

0.5

19

Pitch trim position

Full range

1

±3 % unless higher accuracy uniquely required

0.3 % of full range

Where dual surfaces are provided it is permissible to record each surface alternately.

20

Radio altitude

-20 ft to +2 500 ft

1

As installed

±2 ft or ±3 % whichever is greater below 500 ft and ±5 % above 500 ft recommended.

1 ft below 500 ft, 1 ft +0.5 % of full range above 500 ft

For auto-land/category III operations, each radio altimeter should be recorded, but arranged so that at least one is recorded each second.

21

Vertical beam deviation

1

As installed

±3 % recommended

0.3 % of full range

Data from all of the ILS, GLS and MLS systems need not to be recorded at the same time. The approach aid in use should be recorded.

For auto-land/ category III operations, each radio altimeter should be recorded, but arranged so that at least one is recorded each second.

21a

ILS or GLS glide path

±0.22 DDM or available sensor range as installed

21b

MLS elevation

0.9° to 30°

22

Horizontal beam deviation

Signal range

1

As installed

±3 % recommended

0.3 % of full range

See parameter 21 remarks.

22a

ILS localiser or GLS lateral deviation

±0.22 DDM or available sensor range as installed

22b

MLS azimuth

±62°

23

Marker beacon passage

Discrete

1

—

—

A single discrete is acceptable for all markers.

24

Warnings

Discretes

1

–

–

A discrete must be recorded for the master warning. Each ‘red’ warning (including lavatory smoke) should be recorded when the warning condition cannot be determined from other parameters or from the cockpit voice recorder.

25

Reserved

–

–

–

–

26

Reserved

–

–

–

–

27

Landing gear squat switch status

Discrete(s)

1 (0.25 recommended for main gears)

–

–

Discretes should be recorded for the nose and main landing gears.

28

Ground proximity warning system (GPWS)

Discrete

1

–

–

A suitable combination of discretes unless recorder capacity is limited in which case a single discrete for all modes is acceptable.

29

Angle of attack

As installed

0.5

As installed

0.3 % of full range

If left and right sensors are available, each may be recorded at 1-second intervals so as to give a data point each half second.

30

Low pressure warning

Discrete(s) or available sensor range

2

-

0.5 % of full range

Each essential system to be recorded.

30a

Hydraulic power

30b

Pneumatic power

31

Groundspeed

As installed

1

Data should be obtained from the most accurate system

1 kt

32

Landing gear or gear selector position

Discrete(s)

4

-

–

A suitable combination of discretes should be recorded.

33

Selected barometric setting (each pilot station)

As installed

64

As installed

1 mb

Where practicable, a sampling interval of 4 seconds is recommended

33a

Pilot

33b

Co-pilot

34

Selected altitude

As installed

1

As installed

100 ft

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

34a

Manual

34b

Automatic

35

Selected speed

As installed

1

As installed

1 kt

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

35a

Manual

35b

Automatic

36

Selected Mach

As installed

1

As installed

0.01

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

36a

Manual

36b

Automatic

37

Selected vertical speed

As installed

1

As installed

100 ft/min

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

37a

Manual

37b

Automatic

38

Selected heading

360 degrees

1

As installed

1 degree

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

39

Selected flight path

1

As installed

Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible.

39a

Course/DSTRK

360 degrees

39b

Path Angle

As installed

40

Selected decision height

0-500 ft

64

As installed

1 ft

41

EFIS display format

Discrete(s)

4

–

–

Discretes should show the display system status e.g. off, normal, fail, composite, sector, plan, rose, nav aids, wxr, range, copy.

41a

Pilot

41b

Co-pilot

42

Multifunction/Engine/Alerts display format

Discrete(s)

4

–

–

Discretes should show the display system status e.g. off, normal, fail, and the identity of display pages for emergency procedures and checklists. Information in checklists and procedures need not be recorded.

No

Parameter

1

Time or relative time count

2

Pressure altitude

3

Indicated airspeed or calibrated airspeed

4

Heading

5

Normal acceleration

6

Pitch attitude

7

Roll attitude

8

Manual radio transmission keying unless an alternate means to synchronise FDR and CVR recordings is provided

9

Power on each engine

10

Trailing edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection

11

Leading edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection

12

Thrust reverse position (for turbojet aeroplanes only)

13

Ground spoiler position and/or speed brake selection

14

Outside air temperature or total air temperature

15a

15b

Autopilot engagement status

Autopilot operating modes, autothrottle and AFCS systems engagement status and operating modes.

No

Parameter

16

Longitudinal acceleration

17

Lateral acceleration

18

Primary flight controls — control surface position and/or pilot input (pitch, roll and yaw)

19

Pitch trim position

20

Radio altitude

21

Glide path deviation

22

Localiser deviation

23

Marker beacon passage

24

Master warning

25

NAV 1 and NAV 2 frequency selection

26

DME 1 and DME 2 distance

27

Landing gear squat switch status

28

Ground proximity warning system (GPWS)

29

Angle of attack

30

Hydraulics, each system (low pressure)

31

Navigation data

32

Landing gear or gear selector position