Innovative Avionics Powerhouse Showcases Latest Developments
It's been a great year for L-3 Aviation Products. In less than six months, they've finetuned some ground-breaking products and introduced new ones to an increasingly talented mix of avionics superstars.
Recently L-3's Lynx® NGT-9000 and NGT-2500 models of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) products were certified by the FAA to interface with the Aspen Evolution line of Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) for GA aircraft. The interface will allow ADS-B weather and traffic data from the NGT-9000’s or NGT-2500’s ADS-B receiver to be viewed on the Aspen displays. Additionally, Lynx NextGen Active Traffic® from the NGT-9000+ model will display active Traffic Awareness System (TAS) traffic onto the Aspen products.
L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 and 2500 models port data to Aspen Evolution displays using the popular RS-232 interface. Traffic and weather data can be overlaid on Aspen’s Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) and moving map windows. Traffic can also be viewed on Aspen’s PFDs and MFDs. While the Lynx NGT-9000 shows traffic and weather on its own touchscreen display, pilots can choose to view certain data on the Lynx display and other data on the Aspen display. This multi-display configuration allows pilots to view more information simultaneously and configure the data to their flying needs.
Adding to the mix is the recent announcement that the Lynx® NGT-9000 has received TSO authorization for the additional capabilities of a Class B embedded Terrain Awareness Warning System (eTAWS) option and an ADS-B Traffic Advisory System (ATAS) aural alerting option. L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 is an ADS-B touchscreen transponder that is also capable of displaying traffic and weather data.
The newly added features are software upgrades to the existing Lynx NGT-9000 operating system. The eTAWS option adds an additional screen to the display, highlighting terrain surrounding the aircraft to provide pilots with a Class B TAWS solution where mandated, while the ATAS option provides an aural alert for intruder ADS-B traffic to help pilots visually acquire potential traffic threats.
The Lynx Class B eTAWS option brings terrain alerting through both graphic and aural warnings. The color-coded terrain screen provides a surveillance range of 24 nautical miles and will alert the pilot when a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) is imminent. The Lynx unit will automatically switch to the eTAWS screen when a terrain warning is issued and will alert the pilot of the terrain situation through the audio panel. The Lynx eTAWS page also shows land-based obstacles. Alerts for Negative Climb Rates and other Ground Proximity Warnings (GPWs) are also included with the eTAWS option.
The Lynx ATAS option announces the range, bearing and relative altitude of intruder aircraft through the cockpit audio system. Pilots will hear warnings such as “Traffic, traffic, three o’clock high, two miles.” This aids the pilot in referencing where an approaching aircraft is located, allowing a heads-up approach to identifying traffic threats.
Even more recently, L-3's ESI-500 standby system received TSO authorization as well as an Approved Model List (AML) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) covering a wide variety of aircraft. The ESI-500 standby, designed for class I, II and III Part 23 aircraft and Part 27 helicopters, is a three-inch display that incorporates features such as synthetic vision (SynVis), obstacles, terrain alerting and navigation. The first ESI-500 units were shipped to customers in December 2015.
L-3’s ESI-500 features a high-resolution, 24-bit color display for the presentation of altitude, attitude, airspeed, aircraft track, vertical speed, airspeed awareness cues and slip/skid information. An internal lithium-ion battery powers the unit in the event of a power failure in the panel. The scalable ESI-500 has numerous display options, including SynVis, navigation, terrain alerting, obstacles, metric altitude, vertical speed and heading. The unit can be configured per aircraft performance specifications to include an airspeed awareness band highlighting VNE and VMO cues.
Did You Know? COOL Facts About L-3 Avionics!
- L-3’s ESI-500 features a high-resolution, 24-bit color display for the presentation of altitude, attitude, airspeed, aircraft track, vertical speed, airspeed awareness cues and slip/skid information.
- The scalable ESI-500 has numerous display options, including SynVis, navigation, terrain alerting, obstacles, metric altitude, vertical speed and heading.
- The ESI-500 standby is designed for class I, II and III Part 23 aircraft and Part 27 helicopters.
- The instrument's three-inch display incorporates features such as synthetic vision (SynVis), obstacles, terrain alerting and navigation.
- The eTAWS option on the adds an additional screen to the display, highlighting terrain surrounding the aircraft to provide pilots with a Class B TAWS solution where mandated.
- The Lynx NGT-9000 ATAS option provides an aural alert for intruder ADS-B traffic to help pilots visually acquire potential traffic threats.
- The Lynx unit will automatically switch to the eTAWS screen when a terrain warning is issued and will alert the pilot of the terrain situation through the audio panel.
- The Lynx eTAWS page also shows land-based obstacles.
- Alerts for Negative Climb Rates and other Ground Proximity Warnings (GPWs) are also included with the eTAWS option.
- L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 and 2500 models port data to Aspen Evolution displays using the popular RS-232 interface.
- Traffic and weather data can be overlaid on Aspen’s Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) and moving map windows.
- Traffic can also be viewed on Aspen’s PFDs and MFDs.
- The Lynx NGT-9000 is a touchscreen Mode S Extended Squitter (ES) transponder that is also a display for ADS-B In data, including traffic, NEXRAD graphical and textual weather, as well as moving maps. Up-to-the-minute Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), and Winds and Temps Aloft data are also included.
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