require in accordance with this section all commer-
cial aircraft that must carry both a cockpit voice re-
corder and digital flight data recorder to be 
equipped with a second recorder system that utilizes 
deployable combination cockpit voice and digital 
flight data recording technology. This system shall 
be in addition to the current mandated fixed cockpit 
voice recorder and digital flight data recorder units 
on commercial aircraft. This second deployable re-
corder system shall be mounted as far rear on the 
airframe as practicable. 
‘‘(2) MINIMUM CAPABILITIES.—The deployable 
recording system shall be— 
‘‘(A) capable of recording all mandatory 
data parameters covering the previous 25 hours 
of operation and all cockpit audio, including 
controller-pilot data link messages for the pre-
vious 2 hours of operation; 
‘‘(B) powered by the electrical bus to pro-
vide the maximum reliability for operation with-
out jeopardizing service to essential or emer-
gency loads; and 
‘‘(C) provided with an independent power 
source that is located with the combination re-
corder and that automatically engages and pro-
vides 10 minutes of operation whenever normal 
aircraft power ceases. 
‘‘(b) SCHEDULE
FOR INSTALLATION
OF SECOND 
COMBINED SYSTEM.—The regulations shall require the 
installation of the deployable combination recorder system 
required under this section on commercial aircraft that are 
ordered by an air carrier on or after January 1, 2007. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘com-
mercial aircraft’ means— 
‘‘(A) a jet aircraft with 10 or more seats 
or greater than 12,500 pound maximum takeoff 
weight; and 
‘‘(B) a propeller driven aircraft with great-
er than 19 seats or greater than 19,000 pound 
maximum takeoff weight. 
‘‘(2) DEPLOYABLE
RECORDER
SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘deployable recorder system’ means a digital 
flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and 
emergency locator transmitter housed as one unit 
within an assembly that is designed to be mounted 
conformal to the surface of the airframe, eject from 
the aircraft upon accident and fly away from the 
crash site, and float indefinitely on water.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘44729. Installation of additional flight recorders.’’. 
SEC. 4. PURCHASE OF FIXED AND DEPLOYABLE RECORDER 
SYSTEMS. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall purchase and 
make available, at no cost, to an air carrier (as defined 
in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code) such 
deployable recorder systems as may be necessary for the 
air carrier to comply with the regulations issued under sec-
tion 44729 of such title. 
SEC. 5. REIMBURSEMENT OF AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall reimburse air-
craft manufacturers owned or controlled by a citizen of 
the United States (as defined in section 40102 of title 49, 
United States Code) for engineering, certification, and in-
stallation costs they incur in developing and installing 
deployable recorder systems to comply with the regulations 
issued under section 44729 of such title. 
Æ