Piper Aircraft Inc. has selected the L-3 Avionics Systems Trilogy™ ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument with battery backup as standard equipment for the new PiperJet Altaire, a seven-seat very light jet.

"Piper is pleased to have L-3's Trilogy flying on the PiperJet Altaire," said Piper Executive Vice President Randy Groom. "The Trilogy ESI-2000 fits smartly into the PiperJet Altaire's integrated flight deck, which offers a revolutionary interface between pilot and avionics while eliminating visual clutter," he added.

The joint announcement was made today by Piper and L-3 at the NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention held in Atlanta. The recently TSO'd ESI-2000 is a safety-enhancing digital standby instrument designed to complement today's glass avionics.

"Safety and situational awareness are paramount in speedy, single-pilot operated turbine aircraft, and a Trilogy ESI in the cockpit enhances both," said Larry Riddle, vice president of business development for L-3 Avionics Systems. "Trilogy provides a clear and constant source of backup data that acts as a safeguard for the electrical system and air data computer. Should either system become disabled, the ESI provides the information the pilot needs to make a safe landing."

Trilogy ESI-2000

The Trilogy ESI-2000 is an advanced solid-state standby instrument designed to bring the safety and precision of an all-glass cockpit configuration to a variety of aircraft. By displaying attitude, altitude, airspeed and optional heading data in a layout that matches most primary flight displays, the Trilogy ESI eliminates the disorienting effect of transitioning from digital to analog flight instruments during an emergency. This helps pilots quickly regain aircraft control if the primary displays malfunction. Single-screen backup flight information also saves weight and panel space by replacing up to three standby instruments.