Appareo 4K Ultra-High-Def Flight Recorder Debuts

Appareo announced its AIRS-400 airborne image recording system at the Aircraft Electronics Association convention in Dallas, Texas, on June 22. The 4K ultra-high definition system captures video and ARINC 429 aircraft information—including pilot intercom and ambient audio—which can be offloaded via a cellular data connection. The lightweight unit is suitable for a full spectrum of general aviation aircraft, weighing 11 ounces and ready to mount inside the cabin or flight deck.

The AIRS-400 takes in WAAS GPS data (altitude, latitude, longitude, vertical speed, and ground speed), attitude data (pitch, roll, and yaw), rates of rotation, and acceleration/G force data, with optional ARINC 429 input, ED-155 audio output, and RS-422 output. As a Class C airborne image recorder it can be paired with a crash-hardened storage module like the RDM-500 or meet or exceed crash-survivability standards of ED-155. Data is recorded to an internal crash-hardened memory—with two hours of video and audio storage, more than 200 hours of flight IMU data, and 100 hours of ARINC 429 data—along with an SD card that holds 64 hours of video and audio with more than 200 hours of IMU data or 100 hours of ARINC 429 data.

“FDM or FOQA programs are valuable for fleet operators to monitor trends, identify areas of risk, and deploy training programs to mitigate those risks,” said David Batcheller, president and CBO of Appareo. “However, it can be a challenge for mixed-fleet operators to effectively analyze their flight data when it is collected in multiple acquisition systems. The AIRS-400 is an ideal solution for those programs because it was designed for use in both modern and legacy aircraft.” The unit awaits certification, and the company expects to begin shipping in September 2021. A full STC list for approved models is available, with pricing, from Appareo.