Aspen Teams With Trio To Offer Affordable Autopilot Options

Albuquerque, New Mexico-base Aspen Avionics announced today (Aug. 15) it has teamed with Trio Avionics to integrate the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot with Aspen Avionics display packages for more than a dozen aircraft models. A package including the autopilot and Aspen’s Evolution E5 flight display is priced at $10,750.

The Trio Pro Pilot is a two-axis digital autopilot with all the performance and safety features of Trio’s other systems but available in a single, panel-mounted instrument. “The combined autopilot and display system offers dynamic functionality with control of the autopilot through the Aspen display,” according to the joint Aspen/Trio announcement.

Mark Ferrari, Aspen’s VP of sales and customer support, said, “Aspen welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with Trio Avionics to provide an affordable digital autopilot/electronic flight display (EFIS) system for aircraft owners seeking an alternative option beyond a single manufacturer. We continue to offer an open integration platform that provides aircraft owners a choice when it comes to equipping their aircraft with the latest technology.”

Flight display functions for the Aspen Evolution E5 and Pro MAX (which is also available for integration with the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot) include Selected Heading, Selected Course, Corrected Barometric Altitude, Selected Altitude, GPSS and GPS LPV approaches. For Trio’s part, pricing for the Pro Pilot autopilot starts at $5,995. Enablement software to integrate with the Aspen display(s) costs $200. Customers with a Trio autopilot already installed can return their control head to Trio Avionics to complete the integration for $400.