FAA Mandates 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorders for New Aircraft

February 6, 2026 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1770395490371-2463

Regulatory Update: Expanded Recording Duration for Large US-Aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated that most newly manufactured large aircraft in the United States be equipped with cockpit voice recorders capable of storing at least 25 hours of audio. The rule applies to aircraft manufactured after May 16, 2025, and covers a range of business jets and larger turbine aircraft. According to AeroTime, the FAA said the expanded recording duration will give investigators more complete data following accidents and serious incidents. The agency also noted that the change aligns US requirements more closely with international standards. In issuing the rule, the FAA cited lessons learned from several high-profile accidents in recent years, where limited CVR data complicated investigations. For business aviation, the rule primarily affects new-delivery aircraft rather than those already in service.

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Key Takeaways

The FAA has published a final rule requiring most newly manufactured large aircraft in the US to be equipped with cockpit voice recorders capable of storing at least 25 hours of audio.
The rule applies to aircraft manufactured after May 16, 2025, and covers airplanes with a maximum certified takeoff weight of at least 59,525 pounds and 29 or fewer passenger seats.
The expanded recording duration will give investigators more complete data following accidents and serious incidents.

Federal Aviation Administration National Business Aviation Association

Strategic Implications

This rule may indicate the FAA’s commitment to improving safety standards for large US-aircraft. The deployment of longer CVR recording times could enhance accident analysis, but retrofitting existing fleets may pose significant cost challenges.