Cameras in the Cockpit

"I am thinking something like a CVR but video which is always on during the flight and capture the whole flight or the last 30 minutes of pilot action and the outside could be very helpful for accident investigation. No need to publish or even save it if nothing went wrong. "

Absolutely not - unless completely voluntary in your private aircraft. We have fought this in the 121 world for decades. Voice recorders were agreed to with the strict stipulation that the actual recordings never are released to the public, yet there have be audio releases after some major accidents anyway. Widows are hearing their husbands last scream before impact. Just not right...

As for CFIs - back in the 80's we were told not to allow video cameras during training flights for liability reasons. Supposedly, somebody's widow used a video to claim the CFI didn't teach a maneuver properly. (I wish I had some actual facts on the case to share on this.)

FYI - The FAA is gathering information on videos and pictures being posted on the internet to determine if they need to start enforcing PED use regulations already in place. Check out http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/m...N_8900.292.pdf

Paul A.
Jupiter, FL

I am thinking something like a CVR but video which is always on during the flight and capture the whole flight or the last 30 minutes of pilot action and the outside could be very helpful for accident investigation. No need to publish or even save it if nothing went wrong.

Ramy

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 12:03:28 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
I am thinking something like a CVR but video which is always on during the flight and capture the whole flight or the last 30 minutes of pilot action and the outside could be very helpful for accident investigation. No need to publish or even save it if nothing went wrong.

Ramy
Most pilots won't give up .igc files when they are in an accident; much more factual information available there than with a camera (in my opinion). It is usually possible to sort out what went wrong. Without such data, you are just another person with an opinion.

I worry about cameras not sufficiently restrained during an accident injuring the pilot or passenger...

There are a number of cameras coming to market that will be able to automatically edit video. They run continuously and detect when something interesting is happening, then edit out the rest. You can also talk to them while recording to make sure they save a key moment. This one looks promising:

https://getgraava.com
http://www.wired.com/2015/08/graava-...of-home-video/

It also does hyperlapse, which can make fast-forward sections of the flight appear super smooth.

It can also use a heart rate sensor to decide how to edit the video. That will make sure your crash footage is saved.

There are a number of cameras coming to market that will be able to automatically edit video. They run continuously and detect when something interesting is happening, then edit out the rest. You can also talk to them while recording to make sure they save a key moment. This one looks promising. I ordered one and will give it a try.

http://getgraava.com?ct-referral-code=VmJqzN8r

It also does hyperlapse, which can make fast-forward sections of the flight appear super smooth.

It can also use a heart rate sensor to decide how to edit the video. That will make sure your crash footage is saved.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 2:50:15 PM UTC-5, wrote:
There are a number of cameras coming to market that will be able to automatically edit video. They run continuously and detect when something interesting is happening, then edit out the rest. You can also talk to them while recording to make sure they save a key moment. This one looks promising. I ordered one and will give it a try.

http://getgraava.com?ct-referral-code=VmJqzN8r

It also does hyperlapse, which can make fast-forward sections of the flight appear super smooth.

It can also use a heart rate sensor to decide how to edit the video. That will make sure your crash footage is saved.


I've seen it all now. I wonder what Graava would think which part of soaring is boring. Kinda surprising that it does not post automatically.

Ensure you post a vid for us to review.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 3:37:34 PM UTC+3, Casey wrote:
Just wondering how others feel about sport cameras in the cockpit. Does it help with learning or is it a distraction? Would it help in accident investigations? I've seen some speculation with accidents and if a camera had been on pilot then that could help determine if a medical emergency was the cause.

I know a CFIG that does not like students to have a camera in the cockpit because he thinks it is distracting to the student.

I know that my learning curve of flying and non-flying sports have been helped by me seeing any slight error in my technique.

I know some just don't want to learn another piece of electronics, but its much easier to download and just view. One does not have to edit or post, and the price of sport cameras are cheap for some of them out there.

Could definitive proof of pilot error cause legalities for the pilots family if others were involved in the accident?

I see a lot of cool soaring videos on youtube and most seem to be coming from Europe. Of course some of these have a lot of editing involved. I don't seem many instructional type soaring videos online though. Just yesterday I did see a video from Europe that a pilot did a bungee launch with spoilers open and landed out with near accident, which was informative/instructional.

Casey

I record many or most of my flights with students (including trial lessons) with a GoPro. I have it set to automatically start recording when I turn it on, which I do when I strap in. I turn it off after landing.

I've found reviewing them useful to improve my instruction, and many students have found them useful to spot things they did wrong during the flight. It's amazing for example how easy it is to figure where that thermal really was afterwards, when it wasn't obvious (to the student) during the flight.

One of my earliest recording attempts as a fresh instructor 3 1/2 years ago is going to hit 50000 views in another day or two (it still gets 70 - 100 views a day with occasional spikes to maybe 250):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZN21xzsRo

Tried it in a few gliders.
Wasn't comfortable with the line of sight or hitting the pilot's head on it possibility.
Jim

On Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 7:39:33 AM UTC-5, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 3:37:34 PM UTC+3, Casey wrote:
Just wondering how others feel about sport cameras in the cockpit. Does it help with learning or is it a distraction? Would it help in accident investigations? I've seen some speculation with accidents and if a camera had been on pilot then that could help determine if a medical emergency was the cause.

I know a CFIG that does not like students to have a camera in the cockpit because he thinks it is distracting to the student.

I know that my learning curve of flying and non-flying sports have been helped by me seeing any slight error in my technique.

I know some just don't want to learn another piece of electronics, but its much easier to download and just view. One does not have to edit or post, and the price of sport cameras are cheap for some of them out there.

Could definitive proof of pilot error cause legalities for the pilots family if others were involved in the accident?

I see a lot of cool soaring videos on youtube and most seem to be coming from Europe. Of course some of these have a lot of editing involved. I don't seem many instructional type soaring videos online though. Just yesterday I did see a video from Europe that a pilot did a bungee launch with spoilers open and landed out with near accident, which was informative/instructional.

Casey

I record many or most of my flights with students (including trial lessons) with a GoPro. I have it set to automatically start recording when I turn it on, which I do when I strap in. I turn it off after landing.

I've found reviewing them useful to improve my instruction, and many students have found them useful to spot things they did wrong during the flight.. It's amazing for example how easy it is to figure where that thermal really was afterwards, when it wasn't obvious (to the student) during the flight.

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 7:37:34 AM UTC-5, Casey wrote:
Just wondering how others feel about sport cameras in the cockpit.

snip

I've made several training videos with a GoPro strapped to my forehead (helps me make a point about what scanning looks like) that I sometimes use in preflight briefings. The YouTube links to them are 'private' (meaning you won't find them when searching YouTube).

Burt Compton is in the process of uploading similar training videos that are being uploaded to the SSF website (q.v., http://soaringsafety.org/learning/FTvideos.html).

Finally, several students (with my blessing) record their training flights for their (and occasionally, my) post-flight review. Nothing hand-held, of course, and the attachments are carefully selected for safety. Without exception, those students have found their reviews of such flights extremely useful as have I.