The data obtained at the APEX telescope are written in MBFITS[4] format, which is designed for data from multi-beam receivers. For bolometer projects, these data can directly be read with the BoA reduction software. For heterodyne projects, the data are calibrated online and written out in GILDAS format to be reduced by CLASS, a software in use at various radio telescopes.
A project is usually declared finished when it obtained its allocated observing time or the data quality has reached the required signal-to-noise ratio for all targets. After validation of the data by the APEX astronomer who serves as local contact for this project, the data are sent - together with complementary information - to the ESO data archive2. From there it is sent to the project PI for reduction and analysis, and is available for download after the data proprietary period (usually 1 year).