Crash Protected Magnetic Tape Recorders: A brief description of a new digital flight data recorder produced by Aircraft Supplies Ltd.

FOUNDED in 1956 by Mr E. L. Cook, Aircraft Supplies Ltd. have come a long way since then. Mr Cook left the flight test department of the de Havilland organisation at Christchurch to set up his own company to supply aircraft spares, particularly electrical items and aircraft flight instruments such as artificial horizons and other gyro‐based instruments. There can be few things more damaging to the airline operator than to have an aircraft worth hundreds of thousands of pounds grounded for a prolonged period due simply to the inability to obtain quick delivery of some small piece of equipment costing perhaps as little as a few pounds. The initial stores consisted of two hangars discarded by B.O.A.C. and the company was quickly established. As the organisation grew, it was able to offer full overhaul and repair facilities for instruments and electrical equipment and quickly obtained a reputation for the quality of their workmanship and the extent of their stock. Workshop facilities were approved by Mintech and the Air Registration Board gave approval for the manufacture, overhaul and repair of equipment for civil and military operators. A significant advance in the company's capabilities was made when it took over the manufacturing rights of the Midas range of flight data recorders in the U.K. This range of recorders was popular with airline operators wishing to meet the B.o.T. mandatory requirements.