Level A Standby Provides Battery Backup Power
L-3 Avionics Systems' new Trilogy ESI-2000 Electronic Standby
Instrument with battery backup has been submitted to the FAA for
TSO approval, according to a Monday news release. The ESI-2000 is
an enhanced version of L-3's initial Trilogy ESI offering, the
ESI-1000. The new battery version combines the safety and precision
of solid-state glass avionics with a minimum of one hour of backup
power provided by an integrated lithium-ion battery. Both the
ESI-1000 and ESI-2000 were developed to Design Assurance Level A,
the highest safety standard acknowledged by the FAA. L-3 Avionics
Systems expects authorization and release of the company's latest
digital standby instrument in the summer of 2010.
"With its own internal power source, the Trilogy ESI-2000 design
is even more versatile," said Larry Riddle, vice president of
business development for L-3 Avionics Systems. "When primary
systems falter, the ESI-2000 gives fixed- and rotary-wing operators
a reliable source of relevant flight data, even after a complete
power loss. The Level A design takes safety measures to the highest
level and provides added assurance in the cockpit."
The Trilogy ESI-2000 is an advanced solid-state standby
instrument that displays all the important cues in an arrangement
pilots can easily recognize. By combining attitude, altitude,
airspeed and optional heading data on one easy-to-read 3.7-inch
digital screen, Trilogy simplifies the transition to standby flight
information and eliminates the need for multiple backup
instruments. Such versatility saves weight, panel space and
precious seconds if the primary avionics become disabled.
An integrated air data computer, solid-state attitude sensors
and an optional external magnetometer insulate the ESI from
external systems, allowing it to present precise flight information
independently. The unit's four-button pilot interface, automatic
brightness control and dimensions matching the standard 3-ATI
mounting cutout make it easy to operate and install. Once
activated, the ESI-2000 is typically aligned and ready for flight
in less than two minutes.
Other new enhancements available in both the ESI-1000 and
ESI-2000 include an on-screen slip/skid indicator, which helps
pilots stay coordinated without referring to other instruments in a
dark cockpit, and a pop-up metric window, which facilitates quick
altitude conversions during international flights.
Emergency operation of the Trilogy ESI is achieved through the
use of high-energy density lithium-ion technology. Favorable
self-discharge characteristics allow the battery to maintain a
charge over long periods of disuse with little to no energy loss,
while its excellent power-to-weight ratio provides high output with
minimal added mass. The ESI is expected to supply usable flight
data for three to four hours on battery power, depending on
temperature exposure. Following emergency use, the battery is
recharged by the aircraft's electrical system with no need for
removal or inspection.
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