Story ID: 
L-3 Aviation and Aspen Avionics Share Interface
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Connecting the two devices allows pilots to see information simultaneously, such as weather on the Lynx and traffic on the Aspen. 
Word Count: 467
L-3 Aviation Products and Aspen Avionics have developed an interface between the L-3 Lynx NGT-9000 MultiLink Surveillance System ADS-B transceiver and Aspen’s Evolution primary and multifunction flight displays, allowing display of ADS-B IN traffic and weather on the Aspen screens. This includes showing Lynx NextGen Active Traffic advisory system targets on the Aspen displays.

The connection between the NGT-9000 and Evolution displays is via an RS-232 interface. The advantage of having the two devices interconnected is that the pilot can opt to show information simultaneously, such as weather on the Lynx and traffic on the Aspen. The Aspen HSI and moving-map windows can be overlaid with traffic and weather information, and traffic can be displayed on a dedicated Evolution page or on the synthetic vision display.

The NGT-9000 can show traffic, Nexrad imagery, Metars, Tafs, moving maps, Notams, temporary flight restrictions and winds and temperatures aloft. The NGT-9000 is a dual-band ADS-B OUT and IN transceiver with an embedded GPS source and Wi-Fi interface module for sending information to compatible mobile device applications.
New Standby Option
L-3 Aviation Products also introduced the newest member of its standby instrument family at AirVenture Oshkosh, the Genesis ESI-500. “Finally there is a solid-state standby for Part 23 Class 1, 2 and 3 airplanes and helicopters,” said Larry Riddle, L-3 vice president of marketing and sales for business, regional and general aviation. “It’s a natural fit to address this market.”

The ESI-500 retails for $6,100 and is designed to fit into a standard three-inch instrument panel hole using the same four mounting screws. Unique for a standby instrument, the Genesis is also upgradeable to synthetic vision (a $1,300 option), so pilots will be able to transition more easily between modern synthetic vision primary flight displays and the standby instrument. The ESI-500 also offers an optional Mag-500 magnetometer for $1,570 for heading display, and nav input is available for an additional $670. It weighs less than three pounds.

In addition to the normal standby instrument features, the ESI-500 includes a battery indicator for the internal lithium-ion backup battery and an airspeed awareness band to highlight Vne and Vmo cues.

At EAA AirVenture 2015, L-3 Aviation Products announced that its NGT-9000 ADS-B transceiver has been added to the approved model list (AML) STC for the other models in the Lynx family (the NGT-1000/2000/2500). “Working in cooperation with ADS-B Technologies, we’ve now secured AML STC for all Lynx models,” said Riddle. “Lynx installations are greatly simplified with the AML STC, and the scope of the approved model list includes most general aviation aircraft targeted for ADS-B equipage.”

Pilots can try out the touchscreen-controlled NGT-9000 by downloading a free Android or iOS app or using a live interactive demo on the L-3 Aviation Products website.