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FAA Expands Cockpit Voice Recorder Retention to 25 Hours

February 1, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

US FAA finalizes rule expanding CVR retention to 25 hours.
Newly produced aircraft must comply by 2027.
Rule aims to prevent crucial audio from being overwritten.
Retrofit costs and privacy concerns are potential issues.

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Strategic Implications

This expansion may indicate a shift towards prioritizing safety investigations over pilot privacy concerns. The move could also suggest a growing recognition of the importance of preserving critical audio in incident investigations, which may have implications for future safety protocols and regulations.

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What Happened

New Rule Aims To Preserve Critical Audio In Investigations

The US Federal Aviation Administration has finalized a rule expanding cockpit voice recorder retention from two hours to 25 hours, aiming to preserve critical audio in investigations. The requirement will take effect for newly produced passenger aircraft from 2027, with retrofit timelines in place for certain operators. The move is intended to reduce the number of cases where CVR audio is unavailable due to overwriting, providing more context and timeline for investigators. The rule was reported by AeroTime.

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