Press Release
Issued by Piper Aircraft.
October 19, 2010
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.
$2.6 Million Typically Equipped
The single-pilot PiperJet Altaire is being unveiled at NBAA today. The high-performance single-engine very light business jet is getting a much larger round fuselage design that gives customers an even more spacious cabin to complement already efficient acquisition and operating costs.
Its larger redesigned round fuselage is mounted on top of an expanded-chord wing, with a shorter vertical empennage located slightly aft atop an elongated engine nacelle. The round fuselage and new wing provide all the performance and cabin improvements of a clean sheet aircraft coupled with the proven reliability of Piper's manufacturing techniques honed over the decades with the company's lineup of reliable airplanes, including M-class aircraft – the Meridian, Malibu and Matrix.
The innovative PiperJet Altaire combines revolutionary single-engine performance with ground-breaking efficiency, making it the fiscally responsible choice for aircraft operators. Price point for the PiperJet Altaire is $2.5 million, with a typically equipped aircraft priced at $2.6 million. The PiperJet Altaire costs an average of 25 percent less to operate per hour than comparable production very light jets. The PiperJet Altaire is a powerful and stylish blend of efficiency, cabin volume, range, payload and speed.
Nine Inches Taller, Four Inches Wider
In addition to cleaner and sleeker styling, the optimized configuration gives customers a cabin that is nine inches taller and four inches wider than the previous design. The new cross section also offers a wider than standard sunken aisle for ease of movement inside the cabin. Additionally, the PiperJet Altaire will have a three-foot-wide cabin door for ease of passenger entry and exit while providing great cargo flexibility.
Excellent Performance
PiperJet Altaire maximum range is targeted at 1,300 nautical miles with a maximum cruise speed planned at 360 knots. The airplane is planned to fly 1,200 nautical miles with a full fuel payload of 800 pounds.
State-of-Art Flight Deck
The airplane is equipped with an integrated flight deck. It features Garmin G3000 avionics complete with the first touch screen-controlled glass panel designed for light turbine aircraft, three displays, two touch screens and a GFC 700 automatic flight control system in addition to the Trilogy ESI-2000.
Flight controls in the new, larger PiperJet Altaire cockpit will be yokes, replacing the side stick controls flown on the PiperJet proof of concept test article. The improved aircraft will also have crew seats that are easier to access and an ergodynamic interface between pilot and avionics.
