Advanced
Flight Data Analysis
FDA 301

Your first Quiz? You analyze the Boeing 737NG elevator position parameter and notice the left and right elevators moving in the opposite direction. Where do you go from here?

This course covers the complete analog and digital flight data conversion process from sensor theory (i.e. characteristics of synchros, lvdts, rvdts, potentiometers, frequency output sensors, etc…) to DFDAU processing (signal conditioning, multiplexing, AD conversion), all the way to FDR storage and output (file format & subsequent data output via flight data display). The instructor will cover several linear, non-linear, polynomial, piecewise, curve-fit, logic, and synchro type conversions, so you will be well equipped to handle any flight data formula in the market. You’ll study several sensor models using MS Excel, in order to gain experience in developing conversion equations for Flight Data Recording Systems.

Prerequisite:

Covers a wide spectrum of benefits!

Certification

If you haven’t mastered FAA Advisory Circular 20-141B, then this is your course! You’ll grasp all the essentials of FDR airworthiness and ops approval to support your parameter certification, compliance & expansion programs.

Accident Investigation

No wonder so many aircraft accident investigators attend this course. Review the archives of previous accidents and you come to understand the challenges faced by investigators when FDR parameter values were found to be incorrect, offset, or even completely missing. FDA 301 will close that gap!

Sensor Replacement

Suffering from poor sensor reliability? Considering replacing that sensor with a completely differnet part number? Become adept at FDR sensor compatibility and interchangeability mathematics.

During flight test, you’ll need to map, scale out, and calibrate several sensors in order to accommodate the dynamic sensor range and ‘outside of the envelope’ extremes demanded by the certification environment. Sensors are attached to every corner of the aircraft for the sole purpose of real-time recording and post analysis. Knowing how to scale and map sensor outputs to parameter values is a minimum requirement.

“Attending FDA 301 offers several key benefits. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of non-linear polynomials and their applications for analysis of flight data. You will learn conversion techniques that enhance your ability to tackle complex mathematical problems effectively, while benefitting from the insights of experienced instructors who provide real-world examples and tailored guidance. You will also develop analytical skills that improve your ability to approach and resolve intricate flight data parameter challenges. Overall, FDA 301 equips you with the tools and knowledge to excel in your academic and professional flight data science pursuits.”

Hala Askar
Aircraft Accident Investigator
Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation

Learn more about how FDA 301 can benefit your organization

Learn more about how Flight Data Simulation can benefit your organization.

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How do I modify my FDR to record more than 25 hours?

You can modify the program pins at the rear of the SSFDR to uptick your recording hours. For example, if you have a Honeywell PN 980-4700-XXX installed, you can alter the ‘ground/open’ discrete wiring at pin 17 & 18 of the SSFDR mating connector to increase your recording capacity.

How can determine the amount of hours recorded by my FDR?

The amount of recorded hours is dependent on a combination of your FDAU wps output and FDR maximum allowable recording speed. If there is a one to one relationship between the two units, i.e. – 64 wps FDAU with a 64 wps FDR, you will record the last 25 hours of flight data. This also applies to the case when the FDAU and FDR are both 128wps, 256wps, or even higher. If there is a mismatch between the FDAU and FDR speed, a small and simple calculation can be made to determine actual flight hour recording capacity. See the figure below for the various possibilities:

How can I determine the speed of my Flight Data Recording system in words per second (wps)?

There are basically 4 ways to determine your speed, with the 4th being a bit more involved. First, the speed should be listed or documented in chapter 31 of your aircraft Maintenance Manual and/or Wiring Diagram Manual. However there are times when for some reason, the required information cannot be found. If this is the case, as a second method, you may reference the CMM or technical specification for your Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU). If you are still unable to find this information, you may contact the aircraft manufacturer for the wps or review your previous FDR download analysis reports. Please keep in mind, the OEM will only know the as-delivered configuration of your aircraft. If there were modifications to your aircraft post-delivery – manufacturer unaware of the changes – youll need to contact us for an analysis of your raw data. Using our software we can determine the wps of your system.

With regard to Flight Data Recorder Systems, what exactly does wps imply? I have noticed this abbreviation in our FDR documentation and in communications with the manufacturer several times:

WPS = words per second. A word (12-bits in length) contains binary data which represents a specific parameter value. Please see figure 1 below. Your FDR records in frames (4 second intervals) and each frame contains 4 sub frames (one sub frame = 1 second). With each second that goes by a specific quantity of words are recorded into memory. If you operate a 64 wps FDR system, you will record 64 12-bit words in one second. The higher the word capacity the more information you can record.

What is a Dataframe Layout (DFL)?

A DFL, also known by the name Logical Frame Layout (LFL), Dataframe Interface Control & Requirements Document, and many other names depending on the manufacturer, is a document which specifies the FDR, QAR, or DAR Parameter Word (location), Recording Speed, Sampling Rate, Bits, and Conversion formulae for your recording system.  

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