Honeywell could be resting on its laurels, since the Honeywell Flight Data Recorders aboard Air France Flight 447 certainly performed, resisting two years worth of extreme water pressure and temperature. Skeptics did not expect the data to be recoverable. The fact is that the flight data recorders working for two years at 12,800 feet is operability beyond the design parameters. They were only expected to last about 28 days under water.
The FDR reports confirmed that in the minutes leading up to the crash, pilots were given conflicting speed readings.
The event does provide Honeywell a wakeup call with at least one FDR feature.
The only thing that gave out within 28 days was the battery. Honeywell plans to extend battery life.
Cathay Pacific flight CX-9993 had to return and make an emergency landing in Hong Kong, China, on March 6th.
Turkish Airlines flight TK-1668 was hit by an eagle in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 7th.
LATAM Brasil flight LA-3466 had to return and make an emergency landing at Sao Paulo International Airport, Brazil, on February 17th.
Qatar Airways flight QR-59 made an emergency landing in Munich, Germany, on December 26th.
Delta Airlines flight DL-2845 made a safe landing at Rapid City’s Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, on July 7th.
Austrian Airlines flight OS-879 made an emergency landing at Henri Coanda International Airport, Romania, on September 7th.