What is required to ensure the Cockpit Voice Recorder operates?

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is designed to continuously record conversations and sounds from the cockpit during flight, which is crucial for investigations in the event of an incident. For the CVR to function properly, it requires electrical power. Typically, the CVR is powered by the aircraft's DC electrical system, and it is designed to automatically start recording once electrical power is available whenever the aircraft’s systems are operational, regardless of the engine status or whether the aircraft is stationary.

In normal operational scenarios, there is no requirement for the pilot to manually activate the CVR; it will automatically record as long as it has power. Therefore, selecting the need for DC electrical power as the requirement for the CVR’s operation emphasizes its dependency on the aircraft's electrical systems to function correctly and ensure that it captures crucial flight data.