Definition
A general term for any instrument or device installed in an aircraft that automatically records specified flight parameters during operation. These recordings — which may include altitude, airspeed, heading, control inputs, engine data, and cockpit audio — are used after a flight, incident, or accident to reconstruct what happened.
Plain English
A device on the aircraft that automatically captures data about the flight while it is happening, so that information can be reviewed later.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of required aircraft equipment, accident investigation, and airline or large-aircraft operations.
Derivation
Plain English: 'recorder' from Latin recordari, 'to remember' or 'call to mind.' The flight recorder is, literally, the aircraft's memory of the flight.
Why Pilots Care
Flight recorders are mandatory on many aircraft and supply data that helps prevent future accidents.
Intuition Check
A flight recorder is not the same as a pilot’s logbook or a simple GPS track. In this context, it means installed aircraft equipment that records flight-related information.
Example Sentence 1
Investigators recovered the flight recorder from the wreckage and began downloading the data.
Example Sentence 2
Regulations require certain aircraft to carry a flight recorder for post-flight analysis.