Recorder Data Interface (RDI)

Why choose our RDI?

Reliable performance

The RDI is built on more than 60 years of Acron’s certified avionics expertise and its legacy rooted in engineering. It supports extended-duration recorder data, multiple recorder families, and evolving aviation mandates, ensuring operators stay aligned with current and emerging regulatory requirements. Real-time monitoring of audio channels and FDR parameters enhances confidence in compliance and supports accurate, at-wing troubleshooting.

Lower operating costs

The RDI’s intuitive tablet interface requires virtually no training, allowing technicians to retrieve cockpit voice, datalink, flight data, and fault logs directly at the aircraft, all doing without removing the recorder. This reduces labor hours, minimizes aircraft downtime, and streamlines technician workload. By automating data transfer into Acron’s cloud analytics, the RDI cuts out manual handoffs and accelerates the full analysis chain, from intelligibility checks to compliance reporting and FDM processing.

Plug-and-play integration

Supporting large data volumes and multiple recorder types, the RDI is designed as a drop-in, hardware-simple solution. Its rugged tablet and straightforward connection to existing recorder ports enable immediate use across legacy and next-generation platforms without modifying aircraft wiring. Beyond quick downloads, the RDI enhances the full data-management chain - ensuring secure transfer, smooth integration with analytics tools, and a unified workflow across maintenance, safety, and operational teams.

What this means for you?

• Future-proof compliance: Supports 25-hour cockpit voice and flight data recording downloads, aligning with FAA, EASA, and ICAO mandates for extended-duration recorders coming into force through 2030. Ensures compliant data retrieval by enabling complete and verifiable downloads that meet the requirements of flight and voice data accessibility. Software update capability allows the RDI to adapt to evolving certification standards, data formats, and encryption requirements, minimizing future obsolescence.
• Cost savings vs. legacy systems: Faster download speeds (via 1 Gbit Ethernet) reduce aircraft downtime in maintenance or at-wing readout (no need to remove the recorder for transfer), thereby lowering the opportunity cost of grounded aircraft. At-wing capability also reduces labor hours, tooling, and handling risk compared to older systems requiring removal. 
• Easy integration without rewiring: The RDI connects directly through standard recorder data ports, allowing immediate use without modifications to aircraft wiring or connectors. It uses industry-standard interfaces such as Ethernet and ARINC protocols, ensuring seamless communication with existing recorder installations.
• Operational efficiency and minimal downtime: High-speed Ethernet data transfer allows rapid downloading of large 25-hour flight and voice recorder files, significantly reducing the time aircraft spend on the ground. Reliable hardware designed to MIL-STD-810G standards reduces equipment failures, avoiding unexpected downtime or repeat readouts.
• Express Readout services: Cloud-based services enable users to upload, analyze and access reports as well as other data downloaded from the flight and cockpit voice data recorders. The easy-to-use service allows access to multiple flights simultaneously and provides the most rapid solution for providing readout and intelligibility reports within hours, which meets ICAO, EASA, FAA mandates.

Regulatory compliance

Acron’s tablet-based Recorder Data Interface (RDI) enables operators to easily access and securely download the aircraft cockpit voice, datalink and flight data records. It’s highly rated for regulatory compliance with the U.S. 

• Certifications: The RDI supports and interfaces with recorder families. For example, the SRVIVR25 recorder lists FAA TSO-C123c, TSO-C124c, TSO-C177a, TSO-C155b
• Standards: IP65, MIL-STD-810G
• International: EU 2015/2338, ED-112A/ED-112B

Given future regulatory trends (e.g., longer recording durations, more channels, streaming, datalink, video), the Acron’s RDI is future-ready, which enhances the business case beyond immediate regulatory compliance.

Fleet compatibility

The RDI supports all recorder interfaces, including leading recorder families:

• SRVIVR25™ Series - Acron’s extended 25hr duration recorders setting new standards for compliance and integration 
• FA2100 Series
• FA5000 Series

Ideal for operators with diverse aircraft or multi-OEM installations.

Recorder supported systems

The RDI is supplied as a complete kit, which includes a ruggedized tablet preloaded with the RDI application software, a hand-strap for one-hand use, a protective hard-case with foam inserts, and the standard cable assembly (MIL-38999 connector on one end, RJ-45 Ethernet on the other).

The software supports multiple recorder families. For example, the RDI explicitly supports the SRVIVR25 series, as well as the FA2100 and FA5000 series of recorders, giving flexibility for operators with mixed fleets or different recorder brands.

The configuration includes secure data retrieval and transmission capabilities: Operators may subscribe to cloud-based “Express Readout” services enabling upload of downloaded data for further analysis (intelligibility, FDM/FOQA) and reporting - supporting more advanced operational workflows beyond just retrieval.

Because the interface is designed to connect via standard Ethernet and a ruggedized cable without needing rewiring, it is suitable for retrofit use across aircraft types, reducing installation complexity and downtime. 

Service integration

Cloud services

Acron designed the RDI to connect directly into a secure, cloud‑based ecosystem. Once CVR and FDR data is retrieved at-wing, it can be uploaded immediately to protected servers for analysis, long-term archiving and regulatory compliance. This supports accessibility for operators anytime, from anywhere, while remaining fully under their control.

The cloud platform supports multi‑flight aggregation, long-term retention of readout results, and remote access for safety, operations or maintenance teams. By integrating the RDI seamlessly into this digital workflow, Acron eliminates manual hand‑offs, accelerates the delivery of actionable insights, and enables more flexible, efficient deployment of maintenance and safety resources.

Express Readout

The Express Readout service extends RDI’s capability by enabling retrieved recorder data to be uploaded directly into a secure web‑based portal. Automated algorithms (including patented analysis tools) validate recorder functionality, assess CVR intelligibility, and analyze FDR flight parameters in accordance with ICAO, EASA, FAA regulatory standards. Operators receive comprehensive reports online, often within minutes, with support for multi-flight analysis when needed.

By removing the need to send recorders off-site or rely on manual processing, Express Readout streamlines the entire workflow from data download to actionable reporting. The tight integration between the RDI and the cloud-based platform reduces aircraft-on-ground time and accelerates decision-making across safety, maintenance, and operational teams.

Training programs

Although the RDI is designed to be intuitive and require minimal training, Acron enhances its value with structured training and support programs. These sessions cover proper use of the RDI tablet, efficient data-download workflows, secure cloud uploads, and how to interpret or act on reports generated through Express Readout.

Training also includes recorder-system fundamentals, data-management best practices, regulatory requirements, and integration into maintenance or safety-management processes. By pairing training with the RDI and its connected services, Acron helps operators reduce errors, shorten ramp-up time, and establish efficient, consistent workflows across their teams.

Key capabilities

1. Fast and reliable data transfer

The Acron Recorder Data Interface's core strength is its ability to deliver rapid, secure, and reliable data transfer directly from cockpit voice and flight data recorders. A high-speed Ethernet connection supports large data sets such as 25-hour cockpit voice recordings and extended flight parameter logs without compromising data integrity. 

This high transfer rate significantly reduces aircraft downtime by enabling technicians to retrieve essential recorder data at the aircraft rather than removing and shipping the recorder for analysis. Built-in data validation and encryption to ensure that all files are accurately captured and remain protected throughout transfer.

By combining speed, security, and operational efficiency, the RDI provides rapid access to critical flight information, enabling immediate diagnostics, faster turnaround times, and consistent fleet readiness clear performance advantage over traditional solutions.

2. Secure and efficient retrieval

The RDI enables operators to access and download cockpit voice recordings (CVR), datalink logs and flight data recorder (FDR) content directly from the aircraft without removing the recorder. This dramatically simplifies workflow by minimizing the need for disassembly or shipping of the recorder unit.

The download process is secured - the files retrieved through the RDI are protected to maintain data confidentiality and integrity, ensuring that the sensitive voice and flight-parameter information is transmitted and stored safely. Because the interface was designed in consultation with airlines and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), it aligns with the operational needs of technicians, reducing aircraft downtime and supporting the timely handling of data for maintenance or investigation purposes.

3. Durability

Ruggedized tablet for harsh environments, yet fits snugly in a hand. The RDI hardware is built around a ruggedized tablet device designed to operate in demanding aviation-maintenance environments. It meets IP65 ingress protection ratings and MIL-STD-810G standards to ensure resistance against dust, moisture, vibration, shock and temperature extremes.

The tablet features a large, sunlight-readable touchscreen (8.1” HD) with modes for finger, glove or stylus input, making it practical for on-wing use under varied lighting conditions. The tablet form factor allows single-hand operation and use of a hand-strap, enhancing ergonomics for maintenance personnel.

Coupled with the robust MIL-38999 connector-equipped cable interface to the recorder, the RDI is suited for real-world deployment where durability and ease of handling matter.

4. Innovative integration

Beyond just retrieving data, the RDI supports integration with a wider ecosystem of services offered by Acron - including subscription-based “Express Readout” services which enable users to upload the downloaded files to a secure cloud platform for analysis, intelligibility reporting, regulatory compliance checks and flight-data monitoring (FDM) or flight-operations quality assurance (FOQA) workflows. 

This end-to-end capability ensures that once the data is downloaded via the RDI, operators can seamlessly transition into analytics and reporting without manual file-handling bottlenecks. The result is quicker insights, faster turnaround of safety reports and reduced burden on internal processing resources.

5. Intuitive user interface/minimal training required

One of the key design goals of the RDI was to ensure that technicians don’t require extensive training to use the system. The user interface features simplified, logical menus and workflows that align with typical maintenance tasks for retrieving recorder data.

The streamlined design reduces the risk of operator error and decreases the need for specialist training sessions or frequent retraining. In practical terms, this means fewer man-hours spent on familiarization, and the maintenance team can quickly perform at-wing or on-site readouts of CVR/FDR data.

For operators, this translates into lower training costs, quicker technician onboarding and faster response when recorder data access is required.