L-3 Aviation Products (AP) announced today that AgustaWestland is now offering the Trilogy Electronic Standby Instrument (ESI) aboard the AW119 production helicopter. Both the commercial and military variants of the AW119 will offer the Trilogy ESI.

The Trilogy ESI-2000 is an advanced, solid-state standby instrument that makes the all-glass cockpit possible, replacing the three analog standbys that normally accompany glass avionics. Trilogy provides attitude, altitude, airspeed and optional heading data on a clear, 3.7-inch digital screen. By presenting flight information in an easy-to-scan layout that mirrors the primary displays, the instrument facilitates a quick transition to backup flight information in an emergency, while reducing weight and saving panel space.

“Built to Level A standards, the Trilogy ESI is well-suited for the demanding environments of the AW119 helicopter,” said Ralph DeMarco, vice president of sales and marketing for L-3 Aviation Products. “As helicopter manufacturers migrate to all-glass cockpits, our versatile line of electronic standby systems will continue to gain in popularity.”

Emergency operation of the Trilogy ESI is achieved through the use of high-energy density lithium-ion battery 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. Following emergency use, the battery is recharged by the aircraft's electrical system with no need for removal or inspection. Its maximum capacity is monitored by the ESI computer, which notifies the pilot when replacement is necessary.

The Trilogy ESI leverages L-3 Avionics Systems' vast experience with advanced solid-state technology, 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.