What color is the black box in an airplane?

An airplane’s “black box” is orange. The bright color makes the flight recorder easier to spot among wreckage after an accident.

The term “black box” refers mainly to the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, not their exterior color. They are built with crash-resistant materials and protected memory units so investigators can recover crucial evidence.

The nickname stuck from earlier recording equipment and its internal function, even though modern flight recorders are typically painted high-visibility orange. They may also carry reflective markings and an underwater locator beacon.