Commercial aircraft flight-data recording per flight
The digital information collected from a commercial aircraft’s systems and sensors throughout a single flight for monitoring and analysis.
Also known as: airliner flight data per flight
How big is it?
100 GB · defined recorded-data volume
Defined recorded-data volume · defined data model
Typical recorded range: 1 GB to 1 TB.
A little perspective
Commercial aircraft flight-data recording per flight vs 128 GB phone: data size comparison
The data size of a 128 GB phone is about 1.28 times the recorded-data volume of a commercial aircraft flight-data recording.
BYTES OF DATA
The digital information collected from a commercial aircraft’s systems and sensors throughout a single flight for monitoring and analysis.
Phone storage is the digital memory in a mobile phone used to keep apps, photos, videos and other files.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Commercial aircraft flight-data recording per flight
Defined recorded-data volume: 100 GB; defined data model; range 1 GB–1 TB.
A defined 100 GB flight-data recording for one commercial flight. Aircraft generation, recorder scope, sampling rates, flight duration, compression and airline systems can move the total by orders of magnitude.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked defined recorded-data volume is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
128 GB phone
Data: 128 GB; example.
128 billion advertised bytes. Operating-system and formatting space are not deducted.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked data is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
Change your perspective
Put it next to…
Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
Why this measurement?
Why we use 100 GB
We compare the recorded-data volume of a commercial aircraft flight-data recording. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. The recorded range is 1 GB to 1 TB.
A defined 100 GB flight-data recording for one commercial flight. Aircraft generation, recorder scope, sampling rates, flight duration, compression and airline systems can move the total by orders of magnitude.
The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 GB | 1 GB to 1 TB | defined data model |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueDigital informationOpenStreetMap planet file88 GBPBF snapshot size on 10 September 2026The OpenStreetMap planet file is a digital file containing all global geographic data contributed to OpenStreetMap as of a specific date.Around the same scaleDigital informationSingle-cell RNA sequencing dataset100 GBDefined processed dataset sizeA single-cell RNA sequencing dataset is a digital collection of gene expression data measured from individual cells using sequencing technology.
Nearest higher valueDigital information128 GB phone128 GBDataPhone storage is the digital memory in a mobile phone used to keep apps, photos, videos and other files.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
DigitalAutonomous vehicle sensor data per hour4 TBThe total uncompressed digital information generated by all sensors on a self-driving vehicle in one hour, including cameras, lidar and radar.DigitalRAW photo30 MBAn unprocessed digital image file captured directly from a camera sensor, preserving original detail.Digital128 GB phone128 GBPhone storage is the digital memory in a mobile phone used to keep apps, photos, videos and other files.DigitalSingle-cell RNA sequencing dataset100 GBA single-cell RNA sequencing dataset is a digital collection of gene expression data measured from individual cells using sequencing technology.
Digital512 GB drive512 GBLaptop storage is the internal memory where a laptop saves its files, applications and operating system data.DigitalOpenStreetMap planet file88 GBThe OpenStreetMap planet file is a digital file containing all global geographic data contributed to OpenStreetMap as of a specific date.
Digital1 TB drive1 TBA one-terabyte drive is a digital storage device capable of holding large amounts of computer data, such as documents, media and software.DigitalOne hour of video3.6 GBA one-hour digital video recording with sound, encoded at a specified bitrate.