Avionica plans to start production by the end of the year of a quick access recorder (QAR) which, it says, will dramatically cut the unit size and installation costs in civil aircraft. The Miami, USA-based manufacturer says that it expects to soon announce the mini QAR's first customer - a "large" US carrier.
Avionica's mini QAR is a solid state recorder measuring about 50mm (2in) square with 400h recording capacity. It costs about $4,000 compared with the $10,000 cost of optical disk QARs.
Source: Flight International