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Issue Date: 03/10/2022
01 SUBJECT Introduction and Operation of “ HHMPI - Data
Downloader FOR FDR and CVR.
Applicability: Base & Line maintenance Support Staff /Certifying staff, all Planning staff
References: Handheld Multi-Purpose Interface (HHMPI) Operators manual -30-0005 Issue G
Objective: To familiarize the use and operation of New HHMPI P/N: FDS 40-0301.
Description: GACAEL has introduced new FDR and CVR Data Downloader Kit that can used for the
following:
1) Downloading data from the FDR P/Ns (Honeywell) as listed in Appendix 1
2) Downloading data from the CVR P/Ns (Honeywell) as listed in Appendix 2
3) Decompressing the CVR Raw data into Audio file.
4) Viewing Live Flight Data
NOTE 1: For downloading data from L3 Communication FDRs and CVRs we already have portable
interface(PI)
NOTE 2: Refer the respective AMM for downloading data using HHMPI. The information given in this
technical note is for reference only.
NOTE 3: The HHMPI is a recorder specific and Non-Aircraft specific tool. Refer Appendix attached for
recorder part numbers compatibility.
GETTING STARTED:
1) Using the HHMPI to download data from a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or Cockpit Voice
Recorder (CVR), you need the following equipment:
a) The HHMPI kit.
b) An interface cable for the specific recorder you want to download data from. and software
options.
2) Touchscreen Capabilities Alternative to the push button use, the HHMPI offers touch-screen
capabilities in order to cycle through the various menu options. Use of the push buttons and
the touch screen achieve the same result and thus can be used interchangeably. The list
below describes the operations of each touch-screen action:
a) Left Push Button: Equivalent to swiping right on the screen.
b) Right Push Button: Equivalent to swiping left on the screen. Commonly used to
navigate backwards or cancel an operation.
c) Vertical Scroll: Menu items can be scrolled by dragging your finger up and down on
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the screen.
d) Selection: Tap a menu item to select it.
3) Connecting the HHMPI to a Recorder to connect the HHMPI to a recorder use the interface
cable for the specific recorder you want to download data from. Turn on the HHMPI before
connecting the interface cable to it.
4) Powering and Charging the HHMPI The HHMPI is powered by the internal battery. It can be
charged with the HHMPI docking cradle (P/N: FDS40-0373).
a) Connect the power adapter to the docking cradle, the green light will illuminate.
b) Insert the HHMPI into the docking cradle, the HHMPI will beep and go through the start-
up process, and then begin charging. If the battery is flat, the HHMPI will remain
powered off and will not beep until it has acquired adequate charge.
5) When powering up the HHMPI ensure that no external storage device is connected.
6) To turn on the HHMPI, Press ok button for 2-3 seconds until the unit beeps.
To turn off the HHMPI, press the left push button until the Confirm Power Off alert displays
and then press OK to confirm.
7) If the HHMPI does not respond to normal key operation, execute a warm reset by pressing
the reset button with a straightened paperclip for one second. This will reboot the HHMPI
and return it to the home screen display.
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OPERATION:
1) CREATING AN AIRCRAFT LIST ON THE HHMPI
Press Right to access the Main menu.
Main Menu > Device Configuration > Aircraft Settings > Add Aircraft
To create or add to the Aircraft list on the HHMPI, perform these steps from the Add Aircraft
Menu.
(1) Press Set model command and Enter the Data.
(2) Press cancel to exit the keyboard and Press OK to conform.
(3) Repeat steps 1 & 2 for set tail.
(4) Press the ADD command and press OK to confirm.
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2) Performing Flight Data Downloads (FDR OR CVR)
Depending on the recorder and model, presents a selection of different download option. These
menus only appear when an interface cable is plugged in and the recorder is detected.
GO to - Main Menu > Download Operation > FDR All > Internal
Once the download is complete the download will appear as a .fdr file(For DFDR) located in
internal memory.
To access this file --- Main Menu > Storage Operation > Select File(s) > Internal.
The exact same procedure is followed if you intend to perform a CVR download.
GO TO --- Main Menu >Download Operation > (CVR, DLR, BIT) All > Internal
3) De-compressing CVR data at the aircraft:
To decompress CVR data at the aircraft, the de-multiplexing feature is enabled on our HHMPI
To play CVR files on a computer or another device, you may need to decompress the
raw file into a waveform file (.wav).
After selecting the CVR download, the De-multiplex to wave option will appear. Press the ok
button to decompress the raw CVR file to waveform files. Generally, there will a waveform for each
channel recorder on the CVR. If you do not want to decompress the raw CVR file to waveform files,
press of the cancel button
After the download completes, the raw CVR file and the waveform files from each
channel will be available on the nominated storage device. These files can be transferred to
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a computer or another device where they can be replayed. A codec may need to be installed;
this is included as part of the HHMPI kit.
4) De-compressing CVR away from the aircraft:
NOTE 5 : This section is only applicable to .dlu CVR files only
GO TO --- Main Menu > Utilities > Decompress DLU
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5) File transfer between HHMPI Storage Location.
Insert the memory
device (USB or SD
card).
GO TO --- Main Menu > Storage Operations > Select File(s) | Select All Files.
.
To copy the file from the Storage Operations menu.
GO TO --- Storage Operations > Copy Files > Internal | USB Flash Drive | SD Card.
copy of one file complete. Press ‘OK’ to exit” appears.
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6) Viewing Live Flight Data.
The HHMPI can be used to monitor live ARINC 717 data from the aircraft. The live Data view can display
Data from the FDR in the following formats:
Binary (Base 2)
Octal (Base 8)
Decimal (Base 10)
Hexadecimal (Base 16)
To view live data from the FDR
(1) Connect the HHMPI to the FDR with the interface cable.
(2) GO TO --- Main Menu > Live Data View > View Live FDR Data > View ARINC 717 Data.
(3) Wait until the HHMPI synchronizes with the FDR, while synchronizing,
UNKNOWN displays on the screen. After synchronizing, you can view live data
from the aircraft parameter.
7) Adjusting ARINC 717 Settings.
GO TO --- Main Menu > Live Data View > View Live FDR Data > View ARINC 717 Data
Word Offset selects the current word from 1 to 2048 and then press OK.
Sub-frame selects the sub-frame to view from 1 to 4, or ALL. ALL is the default value
for this setting.
Viewing Mode provides the option to view live data in the following formats: Binary- Octal,
Binary-Decimal and Binary-Hexadecimal.
MSB (Most Significant Bit), hides all binary bits in the word before the MSB.
(Least Significant Bit), hides all binary bits in the word after the LSB.
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8) Viewing Multiple 717 Live Data Words.
A total of 10 live data words can be viewed simultaneously. In order to do so:
(1) Navigate to the Live Data View.
(2) With the topmost word selected press the down key. This will create a word of
the same sub-frame and offset value to appear directly below it.
(3) Repeating the above step will continue to print the same word down the screen
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until the entire screen is filled.
(4) Use the up and down arrow keys to select a word in order to change the sub-frame,
offset or viewing mode.
Note: To quickly change the word offset of one of the displayed words, press OK instead of
right and a pop-up will prompt you to change the offset. For an example see
Viewing Multiple 717 Live Data Words below.
9) V
i
e
w
i
n
g
live flight data in engineering units.
Note: These menu items will only be visible where they are supported by the
connected FDR/CVFDR.
To view the live flight data in Engineering Units (EU Mode), you must associate an
Aircraft Definition file with an aircraft. The Aircraft Definition file is exported from
STARS with the extension .sdf. You will need to transfer this file to the HHMPI via one
of the removable memory options such as an SD memory card, or USB flash drive
10) Assigning an Aircraft Definition file to an aircraft.
To assign an Aircraft Definition file to an aircraft:
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GO TO --- Main Menu > Device Configuration > Aircraft settings > Assign Database.
11) Viewing Live Flight Data.
To view the live data in Engineering Units:
a) You must select an aircraft which already has an Aircraft Definition file (database)
assigned to it.
b) Viewing Live Flight Data and wait until the HHMPI synchronises with the FDR, while
synchronising, UNKNOWN is displayed on the screen. Select the parameter/ word cell.
c) In the ARINC 717 settings menu, Enable the EU Mode radio button and Select
Parameter command, and an alphabetical list will be displayed.
Note: The EU Mode radio button will only appear if an aircraft had been selected that
has an Aircraft Definition file (database) assigned to it.
d) Press right on the first letter of the parameter you want to look at, and then press right
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again. This command will display all the parameters starting with the letter you have
selected.
e) Press Left twice to return to the ARINC 717 view. The selected parameter / word cell
will now display live data according to the algorithm in the configured database.
As in the raw data view, up to four parameters / word cells can be displayed and configured
independently. Values will update once per sub-frame and SAMPLING will flash green and
white for each update.
12) Deleting Files.
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Files can be deleted from all internal and external memory locations including USB and SD
card
applications. In order to delete a file, you first need to select the file(s) you wish to delete.
GO TO --- Main Menu > Storage Operations > Select File(s) | Select All Files.
13) Storage Usage.
GO TO --- Main Menu > Storage Operations > Storage Usage.
From the Storage Operations menu the user can check the amount of data stored
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on connected memory locations.
What is shown will depend upon the memory devices which are currently
connected to the HHMPI.
APPENDIX-1 -FDR Data Download Details
Interface
AIRPLANE RECORDERS P/No. Download s/w
cable
BASE UNIT FDS40-0301 V3 HHMPI Kit includes HHMPI Cradle.
A320+B737 980-4700-042 FDS40-0203 FDS40-5022
A320+B737 980-4750-009
A320 980-4750-002
FDS40-0232 FDS40-5024
A320 980-4750-001
B737 980-4750-003
980-4710-003
FALCON FDS40-208 FDS40-0208
(AR SERIES FALCON)
APPENDIX 2 -CVR Data Download and De-compression Details
INTERFACE
RECORDERS P/N. DOWNLOAD S/W DECOMPRESSION S/W
AIRPLANE CABLE
A320 +B737
980-6022-001 FDS40-0215 FDS40-5020 FDS40-5021
B737
A320 +B737 980-6032-020
A320 980-6032-023
FDS40-0274 FDS40-5027
B737 980-6032-001 FDS40-5033
FDS40-0247
ANY
980-6032-003
AIRCRAFT
980-6023-002
FALCON FDS40-0246 FDS40-5026 FDS40-5021
(AR SERIES FALCON)
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Prepared By Verified By Approved By
Name:
Signature & Date
ABHISHEK PRASAD ROY SANJAY SUBRAMANIAN ABRAHAM THOMAS
The information contained in this Engineering Technical Note DOES NOT supersede that contained in the
Maintenance Manual or other approved publications, unless specifically stated.
Form No: GAT/TS/024, Issue: 01, Rev:0, Dated 18/11/2019
