Flight recorders — flight data recorders (FDRs) and alternatives for aeroplanes
117.—(1)  An AOC holder must ensure that every large aeroplane that corresponds to one of the following descriptions is equipped with a flight data recorder of the type specified for an aeroplane of that description:
(a)for a multi-engine turbine-powered aeroplane with an MCTOM not exceeding 5,700 kg, for which the Certificate of Airworthiness was first issued on or after 1 January 1990 but before 1 January 2016 — an FDR that records at least the first 16 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation;
(b)for a turbine-engined aeroplane with an MCTOM not exceeding 5,700 kg, for which the Certificate of Airworthiness was first issued on or after 1 January 2016 — one of the following flight data recorders:
(i)an FDR that records at least the first 16 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(ii)a Class C airborne image recorder (AIR) or airborne image recording system (AIRS) that records at least the flight path and speed parameters displayed to the pilot, as defined in the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(iii)an aircraft data recording system (ADRS) that records at least the first 7 parameters specified in Table 1-3 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(c)for an aeroplane with an MCTOM exceeding 5,700 kg but not exceeding 27,000 kg, for which the Certificate of Airworthiness was first issued on or before 1 January 2005 — an FDR that records at least the first 16 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(d)for an aeroplane with an MCTOM exceeding 27,000 kg, for which the Certificate of Airworthiness was first issued on or before 1 January 2005 — an FDR that records at least the first 32 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(e)for an aeroplane with an MCTOM exceeding 5,700 kg, for which the Certificate of Airworthiness was first issued after 1 January 2005 and the application for type certificate was submitted to a Contracting State before 1 January 2023 — an FDR that records at least the first 78 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders;
(f)for an aeroplane with an MCTOM exceeding 5,700 kg, for which the application for type certification was first submitted to a Contracting State on or after 1 January 2023 — an FDR that records at least the first 82 parameters specified in Table 1-1 of the Aviation Specifications 2 — Flight Recorders.
(2)  Where a large aeroplane is equipped with any FDR, ADRS, AIR or AIRS, the AOC holder must ensure that the FDR, ADRS, AIR or AIRS (as the case may be) does not use any of the following types of recording technology:
(a)engraving metal foil;
(b)frequency modulation;
(c)photographic film;
(d)magnetic tape.
[S 769/2018 wef 24/11/2018]