Originally Posted by
Graybeard
Has there ever been a cost/benefit study of CVR and FDR? Hauling 50-100 lb of hardware and wire for the lifetime of every airplane is no small cost.
GB
Interesting question, GB ....
What is the cost? Fuel to haul the equivalent of a couple of extra suitcases and some duty-free, or one more empty seat, for the lifetime of the aircraft, plus the cost of maintaining the CVR and FDR.
Less than the cost of carrying diversionary fuel, which is mostly not used... to put the weight in perspective.
What is the benefit? More difficult, because it is very difficult to assess how much and how often CVR/FDR data from a given crash have prevented further crashes (hence more hull losses and more loss of life).
Almost worth a separate thread, to avoid "polluting" this one.
CJ