A flight recorder system for real-time monitoring an aircraft, the system including an aircraft portion being able to be located on or within the aircraft, the aircraft portion of the system comprising (a) at least one percepting component for ascertaining a condition of an aircraft, the percepting component comprising sensors (102, 101B, 108A) for sensing a condition which are configured to be located on the aircraft, characterized in that: the system is configured to obtain information for ascertaining the condition of the aircraft independently and without being tied into the existing avionics and aircraft operational and guidance components; (b) wherein the percepting component is configured to be situated at a location on or within the aircraft from which information may be ascertained; (c) a communication mechanism (108, 109, 110) connected with said percepting component (102, 101B) for transmitting and/or receiving communications over a communications network; and (d) a control mechanism connected with said percepting component (102, 101B, 108A) to receive information from the percepting component and to communicate the information via the communication mechanism (108, 109, 110), (e) wherein said sensors comprises a barometric pressure sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and an altitude sensor, and wherein said sensors are independent from the aircraft's avionics and guidance components; (f) wherein said sensors are configured to detect an emergency condition experienced by the aircraft; (g) wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit, wherein the system includes a speaker configured to be situated within the aircraft cockpit (101, 201), and wherein said system is configured to issue an alert via said speaker, when the system detects an emergency condition; (h) wherein said accelerometer sensor, said attitude sensor and said barometric pressure sensor are combined and provide an indication of when the aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing, and wherein the system programmed to only record, or only to record and transmit, during those periods when said aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing. (a) at least one percepting component for ascertaining a condition of an aircraft, the percepting component comprising sensors (102, 101B, 108A) for sensing a condition which are configured to be located on the aircraft, characterized in that: the system is configured to obtain information for ascertaining the condition of the aircraft independently and without being tied into the existing avionics and aircraft operational and guidance components; (b) wherein the percepting component is configured to be situated at a location on or within the aircraft from which information may be ascertained; (c) a communication mechanism (108, 109, 110) connected with said percepting component (102, 101B) for transmitting and/or receiving communications over a communications network; and (d) a control mechanism connected with said percepting component (102, 101B, 108A) to receive information from the percepting component and to communicate the information via the communication mechanism (108, 109, 110), (e) wherein said sensors comprises a barometric pressure sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and an altitude sensor, and wherein said sensors are independent from the aircraft's avionics and guidance components; (f) wherein said sensors are configured to detect an emergency condition experienced by the aircraft; (g) wherein the aircraft being monitored has a cockpit, wherein the system includes a speaker configured to be situated within the aircraft cockpit (101, 201), and wherein said system is configured to issue an alert via said speaker, when the system detects an emergency condition; (h) wherein said accelerometer sensor, said attitude sensor and said barometric pressure sensor are combined and provide an indication of when the aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing, and wherein the system programmed to only record, or only to record and transmit, during those periods when said aircraft is taking off and climbing out, or landing.