26 September 2001

The Cockpit Voice Recorder provides four channels of uncombined voice recording for 2 hours per channel. The Smiths series of solid-state flight recorders meet existing EUROCAE and FAA requirements ED-55, ED-56A, TSO-C123a, and TSO-C124a for cockpit voice, flight data, and combined CVR/FDR configurations.  The recently developed model 3257A fits the ARINC 747 and 757 form factors making it an ideal replacement for many obsolete tape based recorders.  The Integrated Data Acquisition and Recorder System (IDARS) combines in a single box the Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) with growth to support a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).  It records a minimum of 25 hours of flight data and acquires, processes and stores data from a wide range of analog, digital and discrete sources.  With over 2,500 sold, the IDARS is widely used on commercial and military helicopters to include the Bell 412, UH-1N, Sikorsky S-61N, UH-60, CH-53, Boeing CH-47D, and Eurocopter BK117 and EC135.

These recorders offer the lightest weight, lowest cost solution to current requirements with growth to meet future needs such as Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS).  Smiths is currently certifying an integrated CVFDR/HUMS for the Bell 412, is developing an integrated CVFDR/HUMS system for the Bell Agusta BA609 and is developing the HUMS for the Agusta Bell AB139. 

Smiths Aerospace is the leading transatlantic aerospace equipment company, with half its 12,000 staff and $2 billion revenues in North America. The company holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and are world-leaders in electronic systems, actuation systems and precision components.