Design of a low-cost general aviation flight data recording and analysis system

Aircraft enthusiasts who desire to build and fly their own aircraft are 350% more likely to be involved in an accident during the first 40 hours of flight than all other aircraft in the general aviation (GA) fleet. Pilots must manually collect measurements that are used to develop a pilot's operating handbook (POH), to include emergency procedures. Currently, no system exists to automate the process of recording specific inflight aircraft measurements, parameterizing the aircraft, and creating the necessary documentation required by the FAA. This project proposes a low-cost flight data recording and analysis system that uses a combination of hardware and software for experimental amateur built (E-AB) aircraft pilots to use during the first 40 hours of their testing process that will help reduce error and inconsistencies. Final simulation data will be used to influence the ultimate device requirements for both the microcontroller platform, and inertial and positional sensors.