AIRCRAFT DATA ACQUISITION AND RECORDING SYSTEM

AIRCRAFT DATA ACQUISITION AND RECORDING SYSTEM Disclosed is a combined flight data recorder data acquisition citruity (10) and airborne integrated data circuitry (12) that can be variously packaged to supplement and update existing aircraft systems or serve as a stand-alone flight data recording and/or airborne integrated data system. The flight data recorder system circuity (10) and airborne integrated data system circuitry (12) are separately programmed microprocessor based systems that are capable of processing aircraft parametric signals provided by a variety of aircraft signal sources. In the disclosed arrangement, the airborne integrated data system circuitry (12) is arranged and programmed to automatically monitor engine start and shutdown procedures, aircraft takeoff and cruise and to providea landing report that indicates fuel consumption and landing weight. To minimize memory storage requirements and provide readily available engine condition information, the automatic monitoring consists of a single set of signals for each monitored condition and the information is converted to standard engineering units. Monitoring of selected parametric signals to detect excessive levels also is provided. Stored data is periodically retrieved by means of a ground readout unit (30).