Thread: Reports of a large air tanker crash in NSW

Originally Posted by Old Farang

I have never had anything to do with CVR's, so how do you pre-flight check them? The breaker may very well be in but the recorder itself faulty.

Depending on the install, for example the Dash 8 - you press the test button where the cockpit area mike is, and you get a couple of flashes of an LED if it's working. On earlier models there was an analogue gauge like an audio meter that would flick quickly full scale twice to indicate a successful test.

On my current type, it's the same as the Dash 8.

During the preflight, an FDR that fails to test is considered a no-go item, but can be MEL'd for a short period of time (with limitations).
EDIT: The CVR panel in the plane I’m flying today. VH-YFV B737-800 about 2 years old

Originally Posted by 4bee

Curious that the CVR had not been in use since it apparently left the US.

how many flights had it done since it left the US?