Recording Modes

The FlightVu Witness system can be set up in several modes of operation:

 

Mode A) The system can be recording for the length of the flight.

In this mode, all cameras are simultaneously recorded throughout the duration of the flight. This has the advantage that no user intervention is necessary, and that the entire flight is recorded on the removable hard drive storage medium.

It has the disadvantage that, after an incident, the recording must be reviewed to find the incident, and that some of the storage will be being used for cameras that are not showing the incident.

Mode B) The system can use alarms, which would be located at the Flight Attendant stations.

In this mode, a system of Panic Alarms is fitted throughout the aircraft, at the Flight Attendant's stations for example. When an incident occurs, the Flight Attendant presses one of the alarms starting off the recording of the camera covering the incident. When the incident is finished, the alarm is cancelled by the Flight Attendant.

This has the advantage of recording a 'flag' such that the incident is easier to locate on the recording, but the build up to the incident, which may be vital, may be missed.

Mode C) A combination of the above modes.

The preferred solution is a combination of the above. The recorder will operate in Mode A, recording all cameras, until a Panic Button is pressed.

At this stage, only the cameras recording the incident are recorded, at high speed. This allows the investigator after the incident to fully evaluate any build up to the incident, while making sure that the recording medium is used to its maximum efficiency during the incident itself.

 

Digital Video Recording

The FlightVu Witness system uses a ruggedised hard drive as its storage medium.

The incoming video images are multiplexed, digitized, compressed and stored using proprietary hardware and software, using a variation of JPEG video compression techniques.

When the system senses a change in alarm state, it grabs the pictures from the associated camera immediately. If two or more cameras are alarmed consecutively they are all taken in multiplex fashion. By reacting to either momentary or latching alarm contacts, the recording duration can either be set for a timed period or for the duration of the incident. The required images are then digitally compressed and then recorded onto an integral hard disk, together with referenced entries as to the time, date, title and duration of the incident into the unique image management system.

Video material is recorded onto the hard disk, which can be removed or downloaded as required, following an incident or at the end of each flight. After an uneventful flight, the hard drive - once full - will automatically overwrite itself commencing at the earliest recorded images.

As every event is logged in the on-board database its retrieval and review becomes both extremely precise and effortless. As well as being able to find incidents quickly and easily because they have been recorded digitally, the pin-sharp clarity that was recorded initially is retained, no matter how often the events are reviewed.

The function of any image storage system is to identify the cameras and the exact time and date of any images recorded. The FlightVu Digital Video Server stores this data within the picture file so it can not be tampered with or altered. It is this feature, together with the JPEG compression technique, which allows the images to be used successfully in court.

 

Video Server

The FlightVu Witness front end is a user friendly TCP-IP server, similar to those used on the Internet.

To review or download the images, the operator connects a standard laptop PC to the Ethernet port near the recorder, and 'Browses' the recorder using a standard software Internet Browser package such at Netscape Navigator, or using a proprietary Viewer application customized to their own requirements.

The recorder is Password protected, and communication with the recorder cannot be established without the operator knowing the IP address of the specific recorder, and the relevant password.

The recorded images can then be searched, either by time/date, or by Event Log, or by rewind and replay, just like on a VCR player, with all the added advantages of Digital Video Recording. The images are replayed to the operator's PC, in either single or quad views.

 

Aircraft Specific Proposals

Narrowbody Airliner

A narrowbody, single aisle aircraft requires a system of 5 internally placed cameras, dependant on cabin configuration.

These would be fitted to the Passenger Storage Units (PSUs), or to the center ceiling, where they may be able to be integrated with the IFE monitor installations.

A single recorder would be fitted in an ARINC 600 rack in the avionics bay.

Widebody Airliner

A wide body aircraft, would require more cameras, again dependent on cabin configuration. It is expected that 10 cameras may be necessary to cover the whole cabin area.

Again the cameras would be fitted to the Passenger Storage Units (PSUs), or to the center ceiling, where they may be able to be integrated with the IFE monitor installations.

A single recorder would be fitted in an ARINC 600 rack in the avionics bay.

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