Originally Posted by
Denti
Isn’t the QAR transmitted automatically during taxi in anyway? I know all the data for flight data monitoring is at my companies headquarter usually when the parking checklist is done. And that is without SATCOM, once that is installed it will be transmitted throughout the flight in regular intervals.
It depends. The hardware varies - some can download automatically via Wi-Fi, some via satellite, and some need a hardwired connection. Satellite is fairly unusual - the QAR records a massive amount of data, so it's rather expensive to transmit all that via satellite (some are programed to download specific unusual events - or small data subsets - to keep the satellite fees down). Others respond to and download when queried from base. When I was still working the 747-8, GE had installed an "EMU" - Engine Monitor Unit - that could automatically download via Wi-Fi at the terminal (assuming the terminal was properly equipped), or send out specific event data sets via satellite. The operators started complaining that the EMU was using way too much satellite bandwidth and it was costing them too much money for routine data reports, so GE revised the EMU software to send fewer specific event data sets.
All that being said, I have no idea what UAL has on their 777s - however the point is that a QAR download would be quick and easy regardless of the download method used. It also would likely contain far more data - in greater detail - than the FDR.