Originally Posted by
d747
Hi,
Hope nobody minds me asking a question.
If the recorders are to be found in another search effort what are the chances of getting usable data out of them? Is the data stored of a disc of some sort or in RAM type memory?
d747
Most modern flight data recorders use 'flash' type memory chips, much like what's used in, for instance, digital cameras or iPods.
Those are pretty tough!
And most well-equipped investigating organisations such as BEA have equipment to take a smashed-up and water-logged recorder apart, to extract the memory circuit boards, to remove the individual memory packages if necessary, and if pillar really comes to post, to extract and read the actual memory chips.
So yes, IF the recorders are found, chances of getting usable data out of them are good.
Unless of course the recorders themselves lost power for some reason at an early stage....
CJ