Why do they leave black box in water?

Question: Why, after a plane has crashed into the water, do investigators put the black box back in water? – Will Cowger, Houston. Answer: If a flight data recorder is recovered from the water, it is submerged in fresh, clean water to prevent deposits such as salt or minerals from drying out within the device.



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The black box stores all kinds of information and conversations about the plane. Thanks to its sturdy design, it can be protected even under the hardest conditions. Passenger planes' black boxes are able to send signals under the sea for 90 days.

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Such recorders are fitted with locator beacons. These broadcast their location for up to 30 days, even when submerged as deep as 6,000 meters (20,000 ft) underwater, which increases their chance of being found.

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While human ears cannot hear the ping, submarines, ships, and aircraft can easily detect it using sonar equipment. While each black box is fitted with a battery with a six-year life span, once the locator beacon is activated, it can only send out pings for 30 days.

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An aircraft actually has two black boxes. One is a flight data recorder, which stores information on specific parameters such as flight control and engine performance. The second is a cockpit voice recorder, which records background sound and conversations between crew members and air traffic control.

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The device may often be referred to colloquially as a black box, an outdated name which has become a misnomer—they are now required to be painted bright orange, to aid in their recovery after accidents.

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You also cannot turn off the black box, as it runs throughout the flight, recording every 30 to 60 seconds. is a case of an expert or journalist confusing the lack of an on/off switch as an inability to turn something off. As you'll find many examples of in the media, they don't always get it right.

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The black box's orange exterior typically sports reflective decals and the command “do not open.” It can be opened, but doing so is left to authorities independent of the airlines, to ensure the memory is not compromised.

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