The many pilots at Duncan Aviation share its customers' passion for flying and know that trying to stay on top of mandates and regulations has the potential to cut into flying time. To ensure customers spend as much time flying as they'd like, while at the same time remaining well-informed when it comes to the latest mandates and regulations, two of the company's avionics experts have written a book about flight data recorders (FDRs) and cockpit voice recorders (CVRs).

The authors of the Straight Talk About FDRs/CVRs, manager of satellite operations Matt Nelson and manager of the Houston, Texas satellite Mark Winter, intend for it to be a learning tool. They also hope the book answers all customer questions regarding the use and regulation of FDRs/CVRs. The book can be found at: duncanaviation.aero/resources/straight-talk/fdrs-cvrs

As with a lot of innovative technology, FDRs and CVRs were borne of disaster. Both devices were designed to record bits of information from the aircraft and its systems, or from the pilots in the cockpit, to help investigators learn more about aircraft incidents and accidents, including the events leading up to them.

Digital technology has dramatically increased the amount of information that can be stored on the recorders, and the authors discuss which systems are typically monitored and recorded and why. The book also goes into detail about the complexity of the various regulations and mandates regarding the units themselves, the affected aircraft and the various parameters or data points required by the FAA, EASA, Transport Canada and Mexico's Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil.

In part, the Straight Talk About FDRs/CVRs was created as a result of the expanded Mexican regulations regarding FDRs, most of which went into effect on 31 December, 2022 and are now being enforced. The authors go into great detail, clarifying the somewhat confusing mandate and what exactly you'll need when you fly in Mexican airspace.