Which period does the Flight Data Recorder cover?

• A. the start of takeoff to the end of landing sequence at the destination
• B. the time electrical power commences before flight until electrical power is shutoff at the end of the flight
• C. the time from the beginning of taxi until the aircraft stops taxi at the end of the flight
• D. anytime the flight crew starts a conversation

Answer: (A)

The Flight Data Recorder is intended to document the aircraft’s performance during the actual flight phases. It records data continuously from the start of the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, approach, and the end of the landing sequence at the destination. This window captures how the aircraft behaved in air and during critical maneuvers, which is exactly what investigators and analysts rely on. The moments before takeoff or after landing often involve ground operations; they are not the standard flight-phase window the FDR is meant to cover. Also, conversations are captured by the cockpit voice recorder, not the flight data recorder. So the period from takeoff start to the end of landing at the destination is the best fit.