Fury Aircrafts to Use iPod as Blackbox

Apple's iPod is slated to be used as an in-flight data recorder (FDR) in aircrafts, commonly known as the blackbox, in the cockpit. Aircraft maker, LoPresti SpeedMerchants have announced the full integration of the iPod into their 'Fury' piston aircrafts.

According to the aircraft manufacturer, the iPod can serve as a digital data recorder, with the ability to record over 500 hours of flight time. The company says this makes the iPod, the first truly portable, personal flight recorder with a huge recording capacity. Also, the company says, the iPod can be used as an audio recorder, to capture and replay audio on demand, such as cockpit conversation as well as two way audio transmissions.

LoPresti SpeedMerchants says is a non-invasive, completely portable and infinitely pervasive technology. This means it's cheap, easy to replace and available on almost every street corner.

VP of Operations, RJ Siegel said, "This is the perfect marriage of a consumer product to the aviation market. The iPod has an ideal product spec for aviation. It's light and small, with very low power requirements and a simple interface. By introducing such a mainstream device to aviation, we open the door to increased functionality at bargain basement prices. There are thousands of developers passionate about writing applications for the iPod. With such a large body of programmers we literally have no idea what the next great aviation application may be."

When asked why the company chose Apple's iPod in particular, when there are other MP3 players— Creative Nomad Zen Extra (80 GB with voice recording), the Archos AV380 MP3 and MP4 player with audio and video recorder (80 GB), the Kanguru Solutions 2.5 Media X Change Pro (80 GB MP3 player), the Jobo Giga Vu Pro Evolution and the Nemos 2 80 GB MP3 player/ recorder, with the same storage capacity and identical functions available, Rj Siegel VP Operations/LoPresti Fury said, " There are a host of reasons but the most compelling is the pervasivness of the technology. If the iPod is destroyed in some way, there is more chance you can turn to the nearest kid and borrow one or walk to the nearest retailer and buy one off the shelf.

Of course there are many, many more reasons, a large developer community, worldwide support, access to the largest body of entertainment media (iTunes, iVideo, etc) and a standardized I/O port available in even the most remote community."

He also specified that there is no association with Apple. "We chose the platform based on it's own merits."