# 2026-02110: 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Requirement, New Aircraft Production

2026-02110, 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Requirement, New Aircraft Production, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-02-02, effective 2026-02-02 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02110
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-02110
- Title: 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Requirement, New Aircraft Production
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 4447
- Published: 2026-02-02
- Effective: 2026-02-02
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AL92
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## Summary

Starting February 2, 2026, all new aircraft must have cockpit voice recorders that capture 25 hours of audio instead of just 2. This change helps investigators get more clues to solve accidents and keeps U.S. rules in line with global standards. Aircraft makers and operators will need to update their gear, but the extra safety info is worth it!

## Abstract

This final rule increases the recording time of cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) from the currently mandated 2 hours to 25 hours for all affected future manufactured aircraft. This action provides accident investigators, aircraft operators, and civil aviation authorities with substantially more CVR data to help determine the probable causes of incidents and accidents and prevent future incidents and accidents. The action will also align the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) regulations more closely with existing international requirements.

## Effects PRIA read

- New aircraft must carry 25‑hour CVRs: cost, medium. Starting with newly manufactured aircraft covered by 14 CFR parts 91, 121, 125, and 135, cockpit voice recorders must retain 25 hours of audio rather than the prior 2-hour requirement. FAA reports the incremental cost for a 25-hour unit over a 2-hour unit ranges up to about $5,209 (2024 dollars) pe…
- Three-tiered compliance deadlines: cost, medium. The rule sets staggered compliance dates: covered aircraft per the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act manufactured later than one year after enactment (i.e., after May 16, 2025) must have 25-hour CVRs; aircraft operating under parts 91, 125, or 135 with MCTOW ≥ 59,525 lbs. and 29 or fewer passenger seats…
- Retrofit deferred here, Act requires retrofit by 2030: cost, high. FAA finalized forward-fit only in this rule (no fleetwide retrofit requirement in this final rule), but the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act requires covered operators to retrofit covered aircraft within six years of enactment (six years after May 16, 2024 = May 16, 2030). FAA estimates retrofitting th…
- CVR data use and crew privacy protections: benefit, low. FAA states it is prohibited from using CVR information to pursue civil penalties or certificate actions under 14 CFR 91.609(g), 121.359(h), 125.227(f), and 135.151(c); CVR information voluntarily supplied is protected under 14 CFR part 193. FAA also says it does not control how operators use CVR da…
- More data for investigations and international alignment: benefit, medium. FAA says expanding CVR recording to 25 hours provides investigators substantially more audio to determine probable causes of incidents and accidents and helps align U.S. rules with ICAO and EASA standards (ICAO/EASA require 25‑hour CVRs for certain aircraft manufactured after January 1, 2021). The…

## Related documents

- [2026-15585](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15585): Requirements for Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, 2026-07-31
- [2026-13440](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13440): Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight, 2026-07-02
- [2026-13126](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13126): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility; Extension of Comment Period, 2026-06-30
- [2026-08943](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08943): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility, 2026-05-06
- [2025-04846](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-04846): Extension of the Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Territory and Airspace of Libya, 2025-03-20
- [2025-03853](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-03853): Enforcement Policy Regarding “Drug and Alcohol Testing of Certificated Repair Station Employees Located Outside of the United States; Corre…, 2025-03-11

## Sources
- [2026-02110 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/02/2026-02110/25-hour-cockpit-voice-recorder-cvr-requirement-new-aircraft-production)
- [2026-02110 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-02/pdf/2026-02110.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-02098, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02098)
- [Next: 2026-02131, Exercise of Time-Limited Authority To Increase the Fiscal Year 2026 Numerical L…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02131)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02110 (as of 2026-06-11).