Contact:Larry Riddle
L-3 Avionics Systems
larry.riddle@L-3com.com
616-285-4315 New L-3 Trilogy™ ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument Receives TSO Authorization
Level A Standby Adds Battery Backup Power to Trilogy DesignGRAND RAPIDS, Mich., August 12, 2010 – L-3 Avionics Systems announced today that it has received
the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Technical Standard Order (TSO) Authorization for the
Trilogy™ ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument with battery backup. The ESI-2000 is the latest
addition to L-3’s new Trilogy line of digital standby instruments for general aviation aircraft. Using
lithium-ion technology, the instrument combines the precision of solid-state avionics with 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."
The Trilogy ESI-2000 is 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 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.
A sharp, 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.
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-2000 is achieved through the use of high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Favorable self-dfischarge 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 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.
The Trilogy ESI was developed with L-3 Avionics Systems’ advanced solid-state expertise, which has
made the company a leader in electronic standby instrument systems for high-end aircraft. The Trilogy
instruments bring this expertise to the general aviation market.
L-3 Avionics Systems has been helping pilots fly for more than 45 years. The company provides a wide
array of avionics technologies designed to improve situational awareness and enhance safety, such as the
GH-3000 electronic and J.E.T.® standby instruments, the SkyWatch® Collision Avoidance System, the
Stormscope® Weather Mapping System and the Trilogy™ Electronic Standby Instrument, among others.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3avionics.com.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide
and is a prime contractor in C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance) systems, aircraft modernization and maintenance, and government services. L-3 is also a
leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The
company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion. To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s
website at www.L-3com.com.
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L-3 Avionics Systems