FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Hard
During postflight review of an incident, investigators request the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recording. Under 14 CFR 121.359, what is the minimum duration of recorded information that a CVR installed on a Part 121 aircraft must be capable of retaining?
- AThe last 2 hours
- BThe last 30 minutes
- CThe last 8 hours
- DThe last 25 hours
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The last 2 hours
14 CFR 121.359 requires CVRs to retain at least the last 2 hours of recorded information, and the recorder must automatically erase earlier recordings except after an accident or incident, when erasure is prohibited pending investigation.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 30 minutes was an older, now-outdated CVR standard, not the current 2-hour requirement.
- C. 8 hours is not a CVR retention standard under Part 121.
- D. 25 hours is the minimum retention requirement for the flight data recorder (FDR), not the CVR.
CVR Retention (121.359)
Part 121 cockpit voice recorders must retain at least the last 2 hours of cockpit audio, automatically erasing older data except after an accident/incident.
- Minimum retention: 2 hours
- Automatic erasure of older data in normal operations
- Erasure prohibited after accident/incident until released by NTSB/FAA
Memory trick: 'CVR: two hours of chatter; FDR: a full day (25 hrs) of data.'