Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), is pleased to announce that Intermountain Healthcare’s (IHC) Life Flight in Utah has installed and is operating the world’s first AgustaWestland AW109SP Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) system. Longtime air medical operator IHC Life Flight selected the IBF system to reduce direct engine operating costs and safeguard engine operation.

Donaldson’s AW109 IBF will be on display in Exhibit 8451 during Heli-Expo 2012, Feb. 12-14 in Dallas, Texas.

The IBF represents the maximum engine protection package available in the industry, preventing engine damage in adverse and ramp environments alike. Applicability covers three of AgustaWestland’s AW109 series aircraft: the AW109E Power, AW109S Grand and the AW109SP Grand New. Operators of these helicopters will benefit from reduced operating costs, without experiencing engine performance or helicopter drag penalties.

IHC Life Flight’s operations include high-altitude landings in Salt Lake City’s Wasatch Mountain Range as well as the dusty, hot landing zones of St. George in southern Utah. The Life Flight program can operate its aircraft in these areas knowing that engines will reach overhaul limits without erosion damage.

Developed with the assistance of AgustaWestland, the new IBF is a drop-in system with minimal installation impact. Features include streamlined conformal filter assemblies on each side, mounted into the existing engine cowl without interfering with sliding door operation. As with all certified Donaldson IBFs, the system includes an alternate inlet air bypass system, mounted and hidden within the AW109 upper aft fairing.  This emergency bypass capability is an important IBF feature, not included with the particle separator alternatives.

Providing the most comprehensive line of IBF solutions, Donaldson Aerospace & Defense is the industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance engine IBF systems for commercial and military propulsion systems. Through its St. Louis, Missouri location, Donaldson provides certified IBF solutions for the AgustaWestland AW109E/S/SP, AW119 Koala, AW119Ke and AW139; Bell 205A1, 206B, 407, 206L-3/4, 206L-1(C30), 429 and 430; Eurocopter EC130, AS350 B/BA/B1/B2/B3/B3e, AS350s with Soloy or Heli-Lynx Honeywell engine conversions; and MD Helicopters MD 369H Series, MD 500D/E/F and MD 900/902.