Excellent point! I forgot to mention that a number of flight schools and universities use FDLs for exactly that as does FlightSafety and SimCom. They actually video training sessions and the instructors can mark a particular time for a quick review when the sessions are over.

I’ve also heard that some of the new glass panels have memory – trouble is that it often isn’t hardened to survive impact, water or fire. Datalink perhaps in the future?

Especially if they help lower the cost of airplanes. Both in initial cost and in insurance costs.

But, here’s a thought… maybe they’re not only for accident investigation, but possibly also as a training tool. The question is directed more toward what kind of data is available, and whether it could easily be downloaded (with appropriate security, of course) to take a look at how accurately you really flew that last approach.

As it is, automobiles already have the recording built in, but they also have a data port to which you can connect to a laptop. With this, and some helpful software, you can track your performance data, and even “tune” the engine.

If properly secured, why wouldn’t you want to have more information available?

Another observation: Data recorders are also part of the reason that I’ve continued to hang onto my old cars rather than buy new. Doesn’t really discourage me from buying a new airplane though, since I can’t afford one anyway! Wondering if the market in general will buy aircraft because of recorders, or in spite of them?