Demand continues to climb for Donaldson’s newly certified, high-performance engine Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) for the AgustaWestland AW139 series helicopter. Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), has designed and delivered more than 3,000 barrier filter systems internationally and now adds the AW139, the only available engine protection system of its kind, to its significant commercial IBF product line.
Certified in late 2009, operators worldwide in offshore energy, corporate, rescue, firefighting and other mission profiles are placing orders for the AW139 IBF system. Company officials report sales of the first 12 AW139 IBF systems, with strong interest from fleet and individual operators alike.
Recently, the City of Los Angeles (Calif.) Fire Department (LAFD) went operational with the AW139 IBF system on its newest fire-rescue helicopters. From hoist-rescue operations along the Pacific Ocean to inland landings for water-fill operations during wildfires, the LAFD Air Ops team flies with cutting-edge turbine engine protection.
Aerial responders operate with confidence in a variety of mission profiles, knowing their engines are protected from potentially damaging, power-robbing debris ingestion. LAFD’s prior AW139 configuration consisted of the traditional inlet foreign object debris (FOD) screen, which potentially allows significant amounts of small-diameter sand, dirt, ramp grit and other debris into the engines with subsequent damage and power loss potential.
The new AW139 IBF system features low-profile conformal fore and aft fairings with dual filter assemblies mounted on the existing engine doors creating a sealed intake plenum. As with all certified Donaldson IBF solutions, the AW139 system includes an alternate inlet air bypass system. An emergency bypass capability is an important IBF feature absent in most traditional sand filters and particle separators. A simple compact cockpit switch, common with existing Donaldson certified IBF systems, allows indication and activation of the bypass system. An integral Filter Maintenance Aid also allows for pre- and post-flight, on-condition inspections to assist in mission planning and visual inspection of filter condition. The Donaldson IBF system offers operating cost reductions via engine damage prevention. AW139 operators without IBF systems have reported engine damage/FOD occurrences in ramp and unimproved landing environments alike.
IBF systems can enhance aircraft and mission availability by eliminating down-time resulting from premature, expensive turbine repairs prior to scheduled overhauls. When evaluating the fiscal side of air operations, taxpayers and budget managers alike can benefit from reduced engine overhaul costs. From the thin mountain air of Mount Everest to Arizona’s desert heat, helicopter operators are choosing to upgrade their engine protection with Donaldson IBF systems.
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 their St. Louis, Missouri location, Donaldson provides certified IBF solutions for the AgustaWestland 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, AS350’s with Soloy or Heli-Lynx Honeywell engine conversions and MD Helicopters MD 369H Series, MD 500D/E/F and MD 900/902. IBF solutions for the AgustaWestland AW109 Power and Grand, Eurocopter EC135 as well as the Bell 206L are currently in development.
Visit Donaldson at the upcoming Heli-Expo 2010 Booth: #2847 in Houston, Texas, February 21-23, 2010.
To learn more about the Donaldson Aerospace & Defense group, visit http://www.donaldson.aero or www.afs.donaldson.com.
About Donaldson’s Aerospace & Defense Group
Donaldson’s Aerospace & Defense group is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems for the aerospace and defense industry. Our filtration solutions protect fixed wing aircraft, rotorcraft, military ground vehicles, electronic equipment, space vehicles, missiles, military shipboard systems, and amphibious vehicles. We are committed to advancing filtration technology, providing quality products and prompt customer service. Our group serves customers from sales, engineering, and manufacturing locations around the world.
About Donaldson Company
Donaldson is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems that improve people’s lives, enhance our customers’ equipment performance, and protect our environment. We are a technology-driven company committed to satisfying our customers’ needs for filtration solutions through innovative research and development, application expertise, and global presence. Our employees contribute to the company’s success by supporting our customers at our more than 100 sales, manufacturing, and distribution locations around the world. Donaldson is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 and Russell 1000 indices, and our shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol DCI. Additional information is available at www.donaldson.com.