Why is a black box on an air plane orange?

Answer 1

The obvious answer is that it is easier to find and it is called a "black box" because the information stored inside is very secretive and encrypted.

Here's a excerpt:

It is called the 'black box' due to the secret nature of what it contains. The information inside, especially in the cockpit voice recorder can be very personal and should not get into the wrong hands. For this reason, the information inside is encoded.

The color of the black box is Orange the reason for this color is obvious. It needs to be conspicuous so that it will be easy to find in any terrain. It has to clash with the color of the ocean, mountains, trees or deserts in order for easier location in the event of a crash.

Visit the website below for all you need to know about blackboxes.

Answer 2

As others have stated, "Black Box" is simply a common term for electronics devices whose interior workings are unknown or don't matter. All planes actually have 2, and neither is officially called a "black box". The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which records all radio transmissions and conversation in the cockpit, and the Flight Data Recorder(FDR), which records data about the plane itself; speed, winds, engine RPMs, wing and flap settings, etc. They are usually placed in the tail section.

As others have stated, they're bright orange which makes them easier to find. In a field full of possibly burning wreckage, which do you think would stand out better, black or orange? As to why not red or yellow, it's probably because they are more common colors of clothing and material, while safety orange is unlikely to be found in most normal uses. Of course, if all the passengers happened to be a road construction crew wearing their vests when the plane crashed, that might make the recorders a bit harder to find.

As to the question of why they don't build the plane out of the same material, please think for a moment. The recorders are constructed of 1/4" stainless steel, for durability. The plane skin is 28/1000" aluminum, for reduced weight. If you built the plane out materials even 1/10 as strong as the recorders, it would never get off the ground.

Mimi: The article you quoted has some of its facts wrong. The term black box was in use long before they had the ability to encode the contents. In the old days, they would just pull the tape out and throw it on a convetional reel-to-reel tape player.

Answer 3

Have you ever heard when they say you put in black and white, meaning you make it in formal writing. Instead of calling this unit as black & white box they just call it a black box. They call it black box because of the reason that all of the parameter or indication that are being displayed in the cockpit are also being recorded in the box or unit which ever you call it its the same. Typical black box can record indications up to the last 30 mins before the airplane crashes (if ever). These indications are airspeed, vertical speed, altitude, mach speed, etc.... Moderm airplane can record up to hundreds of different parameters including the airplane system such as pressurization, airconditioning etc....

Everybody got it right they made it orange (its actually an international orange technically speaking) so that it can easily be seen and identified. This unit is color international orange for ease in locating visually this unit also comes with what they call ULB (UnderWater locator Beacon) so that if ever the airplane ditches in th sea or ocean this ULB can transmit signal for the rescuer to detect it. ULB can transmit up to a depth of 10,000 feet that last for 48 hours tranmission.

The other block box is the CVR or the cockpit voice recorded. This unit records all internal or external communications made in the airplane. Internal communtications are flight interphone, service interphone & cabin interphone. External communications are VHF/ HF radios Satelite comm. (if there is). Both of the boxes are international orange in color and both have ULB's.

Answer 4

So that if the plane crashes it's easier to see in the wreckage of the plane. Why isn't it called an orange box? Good question.

Answer 5

Just wanted to add, not only is it orange, they also have silver reflective stripes on them and the words

FLIGHT DATA RECORDER/COCKPIT VOICE
RECORDER DO NOT OPEN

And as for the CVR being encrypted as someone above stated, not on any aircraft I have ever worked on, one of our favorite things to do is to check the planes to see how many pilots did not erase their recordings (The flight crew can push a button and erase the CVR) most recordings are boring but occasionally you get the one where the crew are talking about the flight attendant they banged the night before, that is always fun.
There is a small speaker at the CVR control panel that you listen thru.

Answer 6

Probably so that it's easier to find when they're searching for it in the wreckage of a plane crash. Orange is more visible than black.

Answer 7

I imagine the orange color is so that it is easy to find.

The term "Black Box" is a technical term and refers to an object or device whose contents is obscured from the user and cannot be tampered with.

I work in testing and when we perform "black box testing", we are testing software assuming we know nothing of how it works on the inside.

Answer 8

And why isn't the whole plane made from the material of the black box?

Answer 9

Don't ask stupid questions. Are you that much of a moron? it's so they can easily find it should it need to be found if/when the plane crashes. Can't you see orange better than black? You suck.

Answer 10

A black box is a term used to describe any electronic device .. actual color is unimportant orange is easier to see