FAA Mandates 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorders for New Aircraft

This article summarizes reporting by Reuters and publicly available elements.

FAA Finalizes 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorder Mandate for New Aircraft

On January 30, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a final rule requiring newly manufactured aircraft to be equipped with cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) capable of retaining the last 25 hours of audio. This regulatory shift marks a significant increase from the previous two-hour standard, aiming to preserve critical data for accident investigators.

According to reporting by Reuters, the new rule applies strictly to newly built planes and requires compliance starting one year after publication, effectively setting a deadline in early 2027. The mandate necessitates the use of solid-state recorders that can capture pilot conversations, engine sounds, and cockpit alerts for a duration sufficient to cover even the longest commercial flights.

The decision follows years of advocacy by safety officials who have argued that the two-hour loop often results in the loss of vital evidence, particularly in incidents where the aircraft continues to fly after a malfunction.

Closing the Data Gap

The primary driver behind this regulation is the need to prevent data loss during investigations. Under the previous two-hour standard, CVRs would continuously overwrite older audio. If a flight crew did not immediately pull the circuit breaker after an incident, or if the plane continued to fly to a destination, the recording of the precipitating event would often be erased.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has cited at least 14 investigations since 2018 that were hampered by overwritten CVRs. The most prominent recent catalyst was the January 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 incident, where a door plug blew out of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-flight. By the time the aircraft landed and the recorder was secured, the audio of the explosion and the pilots’ immediate reaction had been lost.

“The loss of the CVR recording is unacceptable and a loss for safety.”

, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy (referencing the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 investigation)

Global Alignment

With this ruling, the United States aligns its domestic standards with international norms. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated 25-hour recorders for new heavy aircraft in 2021, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted the standard for new designs as far back as 2016. Consequently, many U.S.-manufactured aircraft destined for foreign markets are already equipped with this technology.

The Retrofit Challenge and Privacy Concerns

While the FAA’s January 30 announcement specifically targets new aircraft, the aviation industry faces a broader mandate regarding existing fleets. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, passed by Congress, separately requires that existing aircraft be retrofitted with 25-hour recorders by 2030.

AirPro News Analysis: The Two-Step Implementation

We observe a critical distinction between the regulatory rule announced by the FAA and the legislative mandate passed by Congress. The FAA’s current rule focuses on the “low-hanging fruit” of new production lines, where manufacturers like Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright have already integrated 25-hour capability for international customers. However, the Congressional mandate for 2030 presents a more complex logistical hurdle. Retrofitting thousands of in-service jets will require significant downtime and labor, a cost that Airlines for America (A4A) has previously flagged as a concern.

Pilot Privacy vs. Safety

The transition to longer recordings has faced resistance from pilot unions. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has historically opposed the extension, citing privacy concerns. Their primary argument is that 25-hour recordings could be utilized by airlines for disciplinary actions or leaked to the public, rather than being used strictly for accident investigation. To mitigate this, unions have demanded robust protocols to ensure data privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the new rule take effect?
For newly manufactured aircraft, compliance is required one year after the rule’s publication, placing the effective date in early 2027.

Does this rule require airlines to upgrade their current planes immediately?
No. The FAA rule announced on January 30 applies only to new aircraft. However, a separate Congressional mandate requires the existing fleet to be retrofitted by 2030.

Why was the limit previously two hours?
The two-hour standard was established when recording technology relied on magnetic tape, which had limited capacity. Modern solid-state drives can easily store 25 hours of high-quality audio, rendering the storage limitation obsolete.

Sources: Reuters, Federal Register