Mid-Continent Instrument (Booth No. 3636) has received FAA and EASA approval for its new True Blue Power TB17 advanced lithium-ion engine start and main ship battery. The TB17 is the first lithium-ion battery to receive certification for general aviation applications. The 16-pound battery is designed for light turbine and piston aircraft and weighs up to 45 percent less than lead-acid or nicad batteries. The company says the TB17 is designed for less maintenance, lower cost and longer life than traditional batteries.

Mid-Continent also announced that it has received FAA Part 23 approved model list STC approval for its MD302 standby attitude module (SAM). The compact two-inch, 1.6-pound, solid-state SAM provides attitude, altitude, airspeed and slip information on a two-screen display in the event of primary instrument failure and has selectable horizontal or vertical orientation. The unit is designed to interface with most primary avionics systems and can synchronize data, including barometric pressure, from standard Arinc outputs. It has a list price of $10,812 including a two-year warranty.