Developed in response to customer requests, demand remains strong for Air Comm Corporation’s vapor-cycle air conditioning system for the AS350 helicopter, with 50 systems sold to date. Air Comm is known for its design innovation, and the AS350 system features the company’s exclusive leak-free Torq-Lok refrigerant fittings and an adjustable mount compressor to allow for quick installation and easy belt alignment.
While other AS350 cooling systems feature large, labor-intensive condenser cutouts, Air Comm’s condenser is discreetly located and not readily noticeable. The only external evidence is a single, six-inch diameter condenser exhaust outlet in the right-hand baggage door. “We found a way to develop exceptional condenser performance, while minimizing our impact to the aesthetics of a really attractive aircraft,” said Company President Keith Steiner. “We call the design the ‘Slim-Line’ condenser, and its performance translates directly to air conditioner cooling performance.”
For truly effective cooling, the air conditioner has two dedicated evaporators to separately cool the cockpit and the cabin. Air Comm system design experts caution operators to be skeptical of claims made about 50-pound air conditioners, because multiple evaporators are needed to cool interiors in a hot and humid environment, such as the Gulf of Mexico. “Air conditioning is a study in trade-offs,” says ACC Project Engineer Jonathan Buczkowski. “They provide the most effective means of cooling most helicopters due to their low horsepower and electrical power requirements. But you have to select components that are large enough to effectively cool the space. You can reduce evaporator size or quantity, but if it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t matter that it’s only 50 pounds – you’re carrying useless weight.”
Visit Air Comm Corp. representatives in Exhibit 2817 at the upcoming Heli-Expo convention, February 21-23, in Houston, Texas.
Air Comm Corp. is a privately held company that designs, manufactures, and supports more than 20 heating and air conditioning systems for a range of civil and military helicopters, including Agusta, Bell, Eurocopter, MD, and Sikorsky. Additionally, Air Comm has specialized expertise in fluid mass flow analysis and electro/mechanical system design, development and production. Other capabilities include CNC tube fabrication, wire harness fabrication, circuit breaker/relay/control panel design and production, and engineering services. The company is ISO9000/AS-9100 certified.