QAR is a secondary airborne flight recorder and an integral device installed in aircraft, located in the avionics bay. Unlike the crash-survivable Flight Data Recorder, QAR is a non-crash survivable system whose primary purpose is to provide quick and easy access to raw flight data for operational purposes.
Because it records both ARINC 717 and ARINC 429 data - compatible with ARINC 573 and ARINC 747 standards - QAR contains data for a longer duration than the FDR. The unit writes this information either to a removable SD/SDHC memory card or to an internal NAND SLC-grade memory chip, and offers a wireless download option that speeds up data retrieval.
Airlines including British Airways, which has installed QAR in all its aircraft, exploit these features for Flight Operations Quality Assurance, routine Flight Data Monitoring, flight training, maintenance diagnostics, and broader operational analysis, thereby turning everyday flights into continuous safety-improvement cycles.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What is a QAR in aviation?
A quick access recorder (QAR) is an airborne flight data recorder which receives its inputs from the Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU), and it is designed to provide quick and routine access to raw flight data.
QAR is an onboard airline-configurable data recorder, an integral device installed in aircraft, often located in the avionics bay. It records the same ARINC 717 data as the flight data recorder, but unlike the crash-survivable FDR, QAR is a non-crash survivable system designed for routine access rather than accident investigation. The unit organizes and stores the flow of information received from the Flight Data Acquisition Unit, and captures additional parameters through two channels of ARINC 429 data from aircraft condition monitoring systems and other onboard systems.
The recording media evolved from magnetic tape cartridges to solid-state memory. Modern units use standard flash memory cards or contain a removable memory unit so that ground crews can obtain flight data quickly. Because the QAR typically contains data for a longer duration than the FDR, it provides continuous flight data that is the key for driving analytics. A ground station at the airline base stores and analyses this information, enabling flight operations quality assurance programs and predictive maintenance strategies.
By delivering immediate insight into flight parameters, pilot operation parameters, environmental features and performance parameters, QAR the delay by beginning to troubleshoot problems while the aircraft is en route, guaranteeing the highest levels of efficiency and safety during day-to-day operations.
What is the primary function of the quick access recorder in aviation?
The Quick Access Recorder’s (QAR) primary function is providing immediate and routine access to flight data for operational purposes. This function has expanded from recording flight parameters to facilitating real-time data analysis that supports maintenance diagnostics, refined flight training programs, and operational analysis. Airlines use Quick Access Recorder (QAR) for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programs, enabling them to collect necessary data to track patterns and catch issues before they become a problem, which is pivotal for refining aircraft safety and operational efficiency.
Ballard Quick Access Recorders (QAR) from Astronics supply raw flight data for Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and are a tool for Airlines to use in their FOQA and FDM programs, refining operational safety and efficiency. The recorder captures flight data from multiple aircraft systems and data buses, including the engine, recording parameters like speed, altitude, engine performance, flight path, and control inputs that reflect real-time status information of entire flight phase, vital for pre-empting potential issues and narrowing down issues for the purpose of boosting aircraft safety.
The Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft requires a Quick Access Recorder for autoland system certification by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). British European Airways (BEA) uses a quick access recorder on Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft, and supplemental data from Trident's quick access recorder helped the diagnosing of the cause of the 1972 British European Airways Flight 548 "Staines air disaster" where the Trident's leading edge droop flaps had been retracted too early and at too low an airspeed. Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) used this supplemental data over and above that of the aircraft's flight data recorder, often referred to as "black box."
Modern QAR supports wireless transmission, which allows aviation companies to collect all necessary data without the cost of taking a plane out of service. Data is stored in a CF card and is then transferred into a third-party FOQA/FDM system for analysis, assuring confidence and efficiency of flight data analysis that depend on access and reliability of in-flight recorded data.
What is a micro quick access recorder?
A micro quick access recorder is a quick and easy solution for recording and transferring flight data. The Acron Aviation Micro Quick Access Recorder is compatible with all major flight data management systems.
A Micro Quick Access Recorder (QAR) is a lightweight avionics device that captures flight data on a Compact Flash memory card, an internal 4 gigabyte NAND SLC grade memory chip, or removable SD/SDHC cards up to 256 gigabytes and exports it through a standard USB 2.0 interface. Typical part numbers like QAR100-XX-XX, QAR110-XX-XX, QAR200-XX-XX, QAR201-XX-XX and QAR210-XX-XX identify Micro Quick Access Recorders that store 512 MB or 2 GB of information while weighing less than 6 oz (170 g).
Specialised unit families expand this capability. Flight Data Technologies' uQAR models - uQAR0 Wi-Fi only, and uQAR2 Wi-Fi + LTE (Global SIM) with Auto Data Transmission - attach to Flight Data Recorders or Flight Data Acquisition Units on any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft via ARINC 573/717/717/747 inputs, enabling fast and easy installation, maintenance-friendly operation, and auto uplink of recorded data.
Silos QAR offers an alternative that gathers data through the ARINC 717 protocol while remaining simple and robust, certified by the Civil Aviation Authority to support autoland systems and supplied with FAA, STC, and EASA modification packages for custom configurations.
What is a virtual quick access recorder?
A virtual quick access recorder (vQAR+) is a software-based system hosted on the Aircraft Interface Device that replicates traditional QAR functionality without additional airborne hardware. InteliSight Virtual Quick Access Recorder application contains the vQAR+ Data Loader and automates collection, reporting, distribution and consolidation of aircraft data through the OpsInsight Aircraft Data Management portal.
By streaming ARINC 717 bi-phase and bi-polar frames together with ARINC 429 data in near real time, vQAR+ enables operators to implement Flight Operations Quality Assurance and Maintenance Operations Quality Assurance programs. The same data stream feeds CGI VirtualFlightRecorder, a secure and assured cloud-based flight recorder data storage, analytics and monitoring solution that delivers Global Aeronautic Distress and Safety System compliance and provides immediate access for authorised users during incident investigations.
What is a wireless quick access recorder?
A wireless quick access recorder is an onboard device that captures flight data from multiple aircraft systems and data buses, including the engine. It is a tool for Airlines to use in their Flight Operations Quality Assurance and Flight Data Monitoring programs.
A wireless quick access recorder, WQAR, replaces the traditional cable with a cellular link so that flight data leaves the aircraft without human handling. AFIRS Edge is the world's first 5G Wireless Quick Access Recorder. The same single LRU enables Wi-Fi, IP connectivity via 5G, ACARS and SatCom, while its 1 TB (0.93 terabytes) of persistent, remotely managed storage secures a complete parameter set. Because AFIRS Edge transmits data wirelessly, a fixed-base operator can receive 100% of flight data and parameters from the comfort of an office or hangar, and the airline continues to own its data without interference from OEMs.
What is an optical quick access recorder?
An optical quick access recorder (OQAR) records airplane flight information in a digital format using magneto-optical disk media as the recording medium. The unit can receive data in the ARINC 573/717/747 configurations. The first 64 words recorded by OQAR are the same 64 words as recorded by the flight data recorder (FDR). The recorder can be configured to record 64/128/256 12-bit words of digital information per second.
