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 maintenance documentation (which was addressed in FAA Notice N8110.65) in this AC would satisfy the intent of Safety Recommendations A-91-23 and -24, which had been issued 7 years earlier. The Board was concerned that the AC might still not be produced in a timely manner. Accordingly, the Safety Board classified Safety Recommendations A-91-23 and -24 "OpenUnacceptable Response" pending the FAA's completion of the AC.

Safety Recommendation A-97-30 asked the FAA to

Complete the planned flight data recorder (FDR) advisory circular (AC) to define FDR certification requirements and FDR maintenance requirements, and incorporate the FDR documentation standards contained in Notice N8110.65. The AC should be released no later than January 16, 1998.

On July 14, 1997, the FAA stated that it agreed with the intent of this safety recommendation. The FAA also stated that it would complete the AC for FDR certification and maintenance requirements by January 1998. On July 10, 1998, the Safety Board stated its disappointment that the AC, promised by the FAA to be issued by January 1998, had not been completed. The Board was concerned that the AC would not be produced in a timely manner. The Board stated that the guidance contained in this AC was essential to avoid widespread retrofit problems. Pending the FAA's completion of the AC, the Safety Board classified Safety Recommendation A-97-30 "Open--Unacceptable Response."

1.18.7.1.1 Digital Flight Data Recorder Advisory Circular

On October 5, 1999, AC 20-141, "Airworthiness and Operational Approval of Digital Flight Data Recorder Systems," was issued. The purpose of the AC is to provide "guidance on design, installation, and continued airworthiness of Digital Flight Data Recorder Systems." Appendix 1 to the AC, titled "Standard Data Format for Digital Flight Data Recorder Data Stream Format and Correlation Documentation," provides "a standard for the data stream format and correlation documentation that operators must maintain to aid accident investigators in interpreting recorded flight data." The appendix details how to develop a document for each airplane that would provide in detail the information that would assist Safety Board investigators in transcribing each parameter recorded by an FDR.

1.18.7.2 International Guidance Regarding the Documentation of Flight Data Recorder Parameters

ICAO provides guidance to Member States regarding the documentation of FDR parameters. ICAO Annex 6, "International Standards and Recommended Practices-- Operation of Aircraft, Part I--International Commercial Air Transport--Aeroplanes," includes Attachment D, Flight Recorders. Section 3 of the attachment, "Inspections of flight data and cockpit voice recorder systems," provides guidance on the continued