Which of the following is commonly used for flight data recording?

• A. Flight Data Monitoring System (FDMS)
• B. Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU)
• C. Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA)
• D. Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS)

Answer: (B)

The Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU) is commonly used for flight data recording as it serves a critical role in gathering and processing data from various aircraft systems. The FDAU collects information related to flight parameters such as altitude, airspeed, heading, and other performance indicators during a flight. This data is essential for understanding aircraft performance, especially during investigations of incidents or accidents.

In contrast, while the Flight Data Monitoring System (FDMS) is associated with flight data, it primarily focuses on analyzing and monitoring data to ensure operational efficiency and safety rather than direct data recording. Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) is a program that utilizes the data collected from flights for safety management but does not itself perform data recording. The Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) is responsible for controlling the aircraft’s flight path but does not serve the purpose of recording flight data. Each of these systems contributes to the overall operation and safety of aircraft but do not fulfill the specific function of data recording that the FDAU does.