FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 12. Aircraft Avionics Systems | 2. Ground Operational Checks for Avionics Equipment (Electrical) | 12-25. Weather Radar
AC 43.13-1B CHG 1
9/27/01
(1) There is less than 20 hours remain
ing in the magazine as read on the
tape remaining indicator.
(2) Tape has run out.
erase CVR mode, consult the operational man
ual of the manufacturer for the CVR.
a. Playback is possible only after the re
corder is removed from the aircraft.
(3) Broken tape.
(4) After hard landings and severe air
turbulence have been encountered as reported
by the pilots. After the same tape has been in
use 1 year (12 months), it must be replaced.
(5) Ensure that a correlation test has
been performed and then recorded in the air
craft records.
d. Refer to the specific equipment manu
facturer’s manuals and procedures.
e. The state-of-the art Solid-State Flight
Data Recorder (SSFDR) is a highly flexible
model able to support a wide variety of aero
nautical radio, incorporated (ARINC) configu
rations. It has a Built-In Test Equipment
(BITE) that establishes and monitors the mis
sion fitness of the hardware. BITE performs
verification after storage (read after write) of
flight data and status condition of the memory.
These recorders have an underwater acoustic
beacon mounted on its front panel which must
be returned to their respective manufacturer’s
for battery servicing. For maintenance infor
mation refer to the equipment or aircraft manu
facture’s maintenance instruction manual.
12-24. COCKPIT VOICE RECORDERS
(CVR). CVR’s are very similar to flight data
recorders. They look nearly identical and op
erate in almost the same way. CVR’s monitors
the last 30 minutes of flight deck conversations
and radio communications. The flight deck
conversations are recorded via the microphone
monitor panel located on the flight deck. This
panel is also used to test the system and erase
the tape, if so desired. Before operating the
b. Refer to the specific equipment manu
facturer’s manuals and procedures.
c. The Solid State Cockpit Voice Re-
corder system is composed of three essential
components a solid state recorder, a control
unit (remote mic amplifier), and an area mi
crophone. Also installed on one end of the
recorder is an Under water Locator Beacon
(ULB). The recorder accepts four separate
audio inputs: pilot, copilot, public ad-
dress/third crew member, and cockpit area mi
crophone and where applicable, rotor speed
input and flight data recorder synchronization
tone input. For maintenance information refer
to the equipment manufacturer’s maintenance
manual.
12-25. WEATHER RADAR. Ground per
formance shall include antenna rotation, tilt,
indicator brilliance, scan rotation, and indica
tion of received echoes. It must be determined
that no objectionable interference from other
electrical/electronic equipment appears on the
radar indicator, and that the radar system does
not interfere with the operation of any of the
aircraft’s communications or navigation sys
tems.
CAUTION: Do not turn radar on
within 15 feet of ground personnel, or
containers holding flammable or ex-
plosive materials. The radar should
never operate during fueling opera-
tions. Do not operate radar system
when beam may intercept larger me-
tallic objects closer than 150 feet, as
crystal damage might occur. Do not
operate radar when cooling fans are
inoperative. Refer to the specific Ra
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