ASTM F3228-21

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F3228 − 17 F3228 − 21
Standard Specification for
Flight Data and Voice Recording in Small Aircraft
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3228; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers international standards for the flight recording aspects of airworthiness and design for “small”
aircraft.
1.2 The applicant for a design approval must seek the individual guidance of their respective CAA civil aviation authority (CAA)
body concerning the use of this specification as part of a certification plan. For information on which CAA regulatory bodies have
accepted this specification (in whole or in part) as a means of compliance to their Small Aircraft Airworthiness regulations
(hereinafter referred to as “the Rules”), refer to ASTM F44 webpage (www.ASTM.org/COMMITTEE/F44.htm)(www.ASTM.org/
COMMITTEE/F44.htm), which includes CAA website links. Annex A1 maps the Means of Compliance described in this
specification to EASA CS-23, amendment 5, or later, and FAA 14 CFR Part 23, amendment 64, or later.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 Following is a list of external standards referenced throughout this specification; the earliest revision acceptable for use is
indicated. In all cases later document revisions are acceptable if shown to be equivalent to the listed revision, or if otherwise
formally accepted by the governing civil aviation authority; earlier revisions are not acceptable.
2.2 ASTM Standards:
F3060 Terminology for Aircraft
F3061/F3061M Specification for Systems and Equipment in Small Aircraft
F3120/F3120M Specification for Ice Protection for General Aviation Aircraft
F3233/F3233M Specification for Flight and Navigation Instrumentation in Small Aircraft
2.3 EASA Standard:
CS-23 Normal, Utility, Aerobatic and Commuter Aeroplanes
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F44 on General Aviation Aircraft and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F44.50 on Systems
and Equipment.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2017Sept. 1, 2021. Published March 2017September 2021. Originally approved in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as
F3228-17. DOI: 10.1520/F3228-17.10.1520/F3228-21.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, D-50668 Cologne, Germany, https://www.easa.europa.eu.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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2.4 FAA Standard:
14 CFR Part 23 Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Airplanes
3. Terminology
3.1 Terminology specific to this specification is provided below. For general terminology, refer to Terminology F3060.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 aircraft type code, n—an Aircraft Type Code (ATC) is defined by considering both the technical considerations regarding
the design of the aircraft and the airworthiness level established based upon risk-based criteria; the method of defining an ATC
applicable to this specification is defined in Specification F3061/F3061M.
4. Flight Data and Voice Recording
NOTE 1—Table 1 provides correlation between various Aircraft Type Codes and the individual requirements contained within this section; refer to 3.2.1.
For each subsection, an indicator can be found under each ATC character field; three indicators are used:
An empty cell ( ) in all applicable ATC character field columns indicates that an aircraft must meet the requirements of that subsection.
A white circle (○) in multiple columns indicates that the requirements of that subsection are not applicable to an aircraft only if all such ATC character
fields are applicable.
A mark-out (×) in any of the applicable ATC character field columns indicates that the requirements of that subsection are not applicable to an aircraft
if that ATC character field is applicable.
Example—An aircraft with an ATC of 1SRLLDLN is being considered. Since all applicable columns are empty for 4.1.1, that subsection is applicable
to the aircraft.
4.1 Cockpit Voice Recorders:
4.1.1 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the operating rules of the governing civil aviation authority must be approved and
must be installed so that the requirements of 4.1.1.1 – 4.1.1.6 are met.
4.1.1.1 The device must record voice communications transmitted from or received in the aircraft by radio.
4.1.1.2 The device must record ambient voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck.
4.1.1.3 The device must record voice communications of flight crew members on the flight deck, using the aircraft’s interphone
system.
4.1.1.4 The device must record voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker.
4.1.1.5 The device must record voice communications of flight crew members using the passenger loudspeaker system, if there
is such a system and if the fourth channel is available in accordance with the requirements of 4.1.3.5.
4.1.1.6 If Controller-Pilot-Data-Link-Communications (CPDLC) equipment is installed, the device must record all CPDLC
communications, using an approved data message set. CPDLC messages must be recorded as the output signal from the
communications unit that translates the signal into usable data.
4.1.2 If required by the provisions of 4.1.1, the recording requirements for ambient voice communications on the flight deck must
be met by installing a cockpit-mounted area microphone, located in the best position for recording voice communications
originating at the first and second pilot stations and voice communications of other crew members on the flight deck when directed
to those stations.
4.1.2.1 The microphone must be so located and, if necessary, the preamplifiers and filters of the recorder must be so adjusted or
supplemented, so that the intelligibility of the recorded communications is as high as practicable when recorded under flight
cockpit noise conditions and played back. Repeated aural or visual playback of the record may be used in evaluating intelligibility.
4.1.3 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so that the part of the communication or
audio signals specified in 4.1.1 obtained from each of the sources is recorded on a separate channel as specified in 4.1.3.1 – 4.1.3.7.
Available from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20591, http://www.faa.gov.
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TABLE 1 ATC Compliance Matrix, Section 4
Number of Type of Cruise Meteorological
Airworthiness Level Stall Speed Altitude Maneuvers
Engines Engine(s) Speed Conditions
Section
1 2 3 4 S M R T L M H L H D N I L H N A
4.1
4.1.1
4.1.1.1
4.1.1.2
4.1.1.3
4.1.1.4
4.1.1.5
4.1.1.6
4.1.2
4.1.2.1
4.1.3
4.1.3.1
4.1.3.2
4.1.3.3
4.1.3.4
4.1.3.5
4.1.3.6
4.1.3.7
4.1.4
4.1.5
4.1.6
4.1.7
4.1.8
4.1.9
4.1.10
4.1.11
4.1.12
4.1.13
4.1.14
4.1.15
4.1.16
4.1.17
4.1.18
4.1.19
4.2
4.2.1
4.2.1.1
4.2.1.2
4.2.1.3
4.2.1.4
4.2.1.5
4.2.1.6
4.2.1.7
4.2.1.8
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
4.2.5
4.2.6
4.2.7
4.2.8
4.1.3.1 For the first channel, record signals from each boom, mask, or handheld microphone, headset, or speaker used at the first
pilot station.
4.1.3.2 For the second channel, record signals from each boom, mask, or handheld microphone, headset, or speaker used at the
second pilot station.
4.1.3.3 For the third channel, record signals from the cockpit-mounted area microphone.
4.1.3.4 For the fourth channel, unless utilized in accordance with 4.1.3.5, record signals from each boom, mask, or handheld
microphone, headset, or speaker used at the station for the third and fourth crew members.
4.1.3.5 If the stations specified in 4.1.3.4 are not required or if the signal at such a station is picked up by another channel, then,
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for the fourth channel, record signals from each microphone on the flight deck that is used with the passenger loudspeaker system,
if its signals are not picked up by another channel.
4.1.3.6 As far as is practicable, all sounds received by the microphone(s) listed in 4.1.3.1, 4.1.3.2, 4.1.3.4, and 4.1.3.5 must be
recorded without interruption irrespective of the position of the interphone-transmitter key switch.
4.1.3.7 The design of the microphone(s) listed in 4.1.3.1, 4.1.3.2, 4.1.3.4, and 4.1.3.5 shall ensure that side tone for the flight crew
is produced only when the interphone, public address system, or radio transmitters are in use.
4.1.4 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so it receives its electrical power from the
bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the cockpit voice recorder without jeopardizing service to essential or
emergency loads.
4.1.5 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so that it remains powered for as long as
possible without jeopardizing emergency operation of the aircraft.
4.1.6 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so there is an automatic means to
simultaneously stop the recorder and prevent each erasure feature from functioning, within 10 min after crash impact.
4.1.7 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so there is a means of ensuring proper
operation during preflight checking.
4.1.8 If separate or individual cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder units are required by the provisions of 4.1.1 or 4.2.1,
or both, each cockpit voice recorder so required must be installed so any single electrical failure external to the recorder does not
disable both the cockpit voice recorder(s) and the flight data recorder(s).
4.1.9 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so it has an independent power source that
provides 1010 min 6 1 min of electrical power to operate both the cockpit voice recorder and cockpit-mounted area microphone.
4.1.10 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so it has an independent power source
that is located as close as practicable to the cockpit voice recorder.
4.1.11 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so it has an independent power source
to which the cockpit voice recorder and cockpit-mounted area microphone are switched automatically in the event that all other
power to the cockpit voice recorder is interrupted either by normal shutdown or by any other loss of power to the electrical power
bus.
4.1.12 Each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1 must be installed so it is in a separate container from the
flight data recorder when both are required. If used to comply with only the cockpit voice recorder requirements, a combination
unit may be installed.
4.1.13 For each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1, the recorder container must be located and mounted
to minimize the probability of rupture of the container as a result of crash impact and consequent heat damage to the recorder from
fire.
4.1.14 Except as provided in 4.1.15, for each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1, the recorder container
must be located as far aft as practicable, but need not be outside of the pressurized compartment, and may not be located where
aft-mounted engines may crush the container during impact.
4.1.15 For each cockpit voice recorder required by the provisions of 4.1.1, if two separate combination digital flig
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