28 March 2007

Mid-Continent Instruments dominates standby instrument market by offering new lightweight Emergency Power Supply 

WICHITA, Kan. — Mid-Continent Instruments standby suite of instruments is being installed by ten aviation OEM’s to compliment their current glass panel offerings.  This represents a huge vote of confidence in the reliability and value of these proven indicators.

            The newly released lightweight Emergency Power Supply (EPS) adds functionality and safety to these installations.  “A complete electrical system failure or smoke in the cockpit is a very serious situation,” said Todd Winter, president of Mid-Continent Instruments.  “What good are your primary or backup indicators if you can’t see them?” 

The new Emergency Power Supply (MD420) solves this problem by providing fully automatic backup power to Mid-Continent Instrument electric attitude indicators and lighting power to the attitude indicator, airspeed and altimeter. 

With a list price of $2,200 and a low weight of 3.2 lbs., the MD420 costs and weighs less than half that of similar products.  It includes a panel-mounted, mini-annunciation switch.  This self-dimming switch controls testing function and optional manual operation of the battery.  EPS batteries are able to be replaced in the field for added convenience.

The MD420 is fully automatic.  With old style products, the pilot must remember to arm and disarm the standby system.  The Mid-Continent EPS arms automatically at the beginning of flight, recharges during flight, and shuts off after flight.  It activates instantly upon power loss via an internal airspeed switch or optional squat switch input.

            The MD420 system, which recently received TSO approval, will be sold as a kit consisting of a MD421 battery module, MD422 ACU, two different connectors, and an installation manual.  The MD420 system is immediately available for purchase through any FAA approved avionics shop. To locate an avionics dealer in your area, visit www.aea.net.

Mid-Continent Instruments manufactures aircraft instruments for the general aviation industry.  Services at the Wichita, Kansas facility also include developing and manufacturing new avionics products.  Mid-Continent Instruments West in Van Nuys, California provides new instrument sales and is the top-rated instrument overhaul shop on the west coast.  Together the locations employ more than 150 people and offer the largest general aviation instrument overhaul/exchange program in the world.  Specialties include gyro, altimeter, HSI and autopilot system overhauls.  Mid-Continent instruments are found in all new Cessna airplanes and in Raytheon’s Beech line of Bonanzas, Barons, King Airs and 1900 Airliners.  Instruments are sold to other manufacturers such as GARMIN International, Honeywell, Cirrus, Lancair, Piper Aircraft Inc., Diamond and Robinson Helicopter Co.