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Aviation News Item: 11509
14th Aug 2010
TSO Authorized For L-3 Trilogy Electronic Standby Instruments
Source: aero-news.net
 Adds Battery Backup Power To Trilogy Design
The FAA has granted TSO authorization to L-3 Avionics Systems for the Trilogy ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument with battery backup, the company announced Thursday. L-3 says the instrument uses lithium-ion technology to provide a minimum of one hour and up to four hours of backup power if primary power is lost. Software and Complex Electronic Hardware for both the ESI-2000 and the most current version of its counterpart, the ESI-1000, were developed to Design Assurance Level A, the highest safety standard acknowledged by the FAA. The ESI-2000 is now available to order.
"Many of today's aircraft are operated solely by reference to electronically displayed flight information, which significantly increases reliance on the electrical system," said Larry Riddle, vice president of business development for L-3 Avionics Systems. "The Trilogy ESI-2000 gives pilots the clarity and precision they are accustomed to seeing on a primary flight display, while also acting as a safeguard against possible electrical failure. With the ability to operate independently after a power loss, the ESI provides the information the pilot needs to make a safe landing."
L-3 designed the Trilogy ESI-2000 to be an advanced solid-state standby instrument that makes the all-glass cockpit possible in modern aircraft. By displaying attitude, altitude, airspeed and optional heading data in a layout that mirrors most primary flight displays, the company says the Trilogy ESI helps pilots quickly transition their visual scan to a secondary display without adjusting to the different look of analog equipment. Single-screen backup flight information also saves weight and panel space by replacing up to three standby instruments.
L-3 says a 3.7-inch backlit screen makes the ESI-2000 clearly visible in daylight conditions as well as in a dark cockpit. And with an integrated air data computer, solid-state attitude sensor and optional external magnetometer, the unit is insulated from potential failures in the aircraft's primary systems. The ESI-2000'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.
L-3 Trilogy Backup
Other 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, according to the company.
Emergency operation of the Trilogy ESI-2000 is achieved through the use of high-energy density lithiumion 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. L-3 says the ESI is expected to supply usable flight data for up 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. The battery's maximum capacity is monitored by the ESI computer, which will notify the pilot when replacement is necessary.
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