FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)Regulations (Part 121)Easy
Under 14 CFR 121.359, a Part 121 aircraft's cockpit voice recorder installed to meet the regulation must be capable of retaining recorded information for at least:
- AThe last 15 minutes of operation
- BThe last 2 hours of operation
- CThe last 8 hours of operation
- DThe entire flight regardless of duration
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The last 2 hours of operation
14 CFR 121.359 requires that the cockpit voice recorder retain at least the last 2 hours of recorded information. This ensures investigators have access to communications and cockpit sounds leading up to an incident or accident.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 15 minutes is far too short to meet the CVR retention requirement.
- C. 8 hours exceeds the baseline retention requirement in this rule.
- D. CVRs are not required to record the entire flight regardless of duration under this baseline rule.
Cockpit Voice Recorder Retention (121.359)
Regulation requiring the CVR to retain at least the last 2 hours of recorded cockpit audio.
- Minimum retention: 2 hours of recorded information
- Records flight crew conversations and cockpit sounds
- Used for accident/incident investigation
Memory trick: Two hours of chatter, saved for whatever matters.