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.

FMI: www.L-3avionics.com