Author Topic: How much storge space is used for aviation comms?  (Read 3818 times)

Offline A330jfk

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
How much storge space is used for aviation comms?
« on: September 04, 2018, 09:29:44 AM »
Hello all,

I understand that all US ATC communications, as well as FAA radar tracks, are recorded for use in the case of any abnormal flight operations around the US.  The FAA and NTSB investigators then use this recorded data to help piece together the cause of whatever mishap occurred.

My question:  Just how many 10's of terabytes (?) of comm data are recorded in any given 24 hr period?  Does it get compressed for storage after so many days in order to save storage space (and hence, the cost for that storage?)

Thank you for any responses.  As you can tell, I don't know much about the behind-the-scenes operations of ATC when it comes to storage of comm data. 

Happy Landings






Offline martyj19

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 148
Re: How much storge space is used for aviation comms?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2018, 01:13:03 PM »
We can't give out that information.   :roll:


Offline KB4TEZ

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1436
Re: How much storge space is used for aviation comms?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2018, 02:10:34 PM »
Marty can't give out that information, but ask him again in 45 days (hint, hint)  :-D :-D

Offline wiedehopf

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 149
Re: How much storge space is used for aviation comms?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2018, 03:25:18 PM »
Storing audio is not that memory intensive.

liveatc.net is not using the best compression and still it's 4 MB per half hour.
That would be roughly 200 MB per day and freqency, so that's 6GB for each feed to save it 31 days.

Compared to other ATC expenses like transmission equipment etc. it's not much. Not sure for how long ATC tapes are saved either.

Radar tracks can be recorded quite space efficient, so i wouldn't think it's a factor storage-wise.