Could Cockpit Video Recorders Improve Air Crash Investigations?

In the aftermath of any aviation accident, one of the first priorities for investigators is to locate the aircraft’s so-called black boxes, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). Although these crucial tools are typically bright orange for visibility, they hold invaluable data on a flight’s final moments. However, despite the insight they provide, some experts believe they don’t always capture the full picture. 

This has renewed long-standing calls for cockpit video recorders, devices that could add visual context to pilots’ actions and potentially enhance the clarity and accuracy of accident investigations. 

The conversation has resurfaced following the crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, where preliminary reports point to a fuel flow disruption after take-off. Advocates argue that video footage from the cockpit could have offered a clearer view of what went wrong and why. 

While this incident brought the topic back into headlines, the push for cockpit cameras is far from new. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has listed cockpit video recorders on its “most wanted” list since 2003 and first proposed the idea as early as 1989. 

Industry leaders like IATA Director General Willie Walsh have voiced support, noting the potential investigative value of visual evidence alongside audio and data. 

“It’s quite possible that a video recorded in addition to the voice recording would significantly assist the investigators.” 

Despite support from the NTSB, legislative and regulatory hurdles remain. A 2023 US bill initially proposed requiring video recorders on Part 121 aircraft, which includes large commercial and cargo carriers, giving operators seven years to comply. These devices would be crash-proof and capable of storing 25 hours of footage, significantly more than the current two-hour capacity for CVRs. 

However, when the bill passed through Congress, the video requirement was dropped. Only the voice and data recorder storage were extended, leaving cockpit video recorders once again sidelined. 

Pilot unions and associations, including the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have consistently opposed cockpit cameras. Their concerns include privacy, potential misuse of footage, and the risk that video could mislead rather than clarify investigations. ALPA argues that hand or leg movements don’t necessarily indicate aircraft inputs and that video adds little substantive value. 

Supporters of cockpit video recorders argue that transparency and closure for crash victims’ families should outweigh privacy concerns. Critics, however, warn of the slippery slope of surveillance and fear footage could be taken out of context. 

Picture credit - aviationweek.com

There is precedent for video evidence making a difference. In a 2023 Australian helicopter crash, onboard footage revealed the pilot had been distracted, helping clarify the cause. 

While cockpit cameras may not have changed the outcome of recent crashes, they could enhance future investigations by offering additional clarity in the pursuit of aviation safety. The debate continues, and so does the wait for regulatory consensus.