US Army Selects Porvair Filters for Apache and Black Hawk fleets

US Army Selects Porvair Filters for Apache and Black Hawk fleets

14-Apr-2010 Source: Porvair Filtration Group

Following an extensive test programme – Sinterflo® F Metal Filters from Porvair Filtration Group have been selected by the US Army Aviation Engineering Directorate Propulsion Hydraulic Team (AED) at Fort Rucker Alabama for installation across their fleet of AH-64 (Apache) and UH-60 (Blackhawk) helicopters.

The US Army Aviation Engineering Directorate Propulsion Hydraulic Team was tasked with improving the overall maintenance costs of its helicopters by improving the cleanliness of the hydraulic systems. Tests had indicated that in the dynamic environment found on helicopters the current glass fibre filters used in the hydraulic system of their helicopters did not meet the cleanliness requirements, causing increased wear on other components, leading to aircraft non availability, high repair and overhaul costs.  It carried out an extensive six-month programme of testing supplier’s filters on the hydraulic systems of ten specially instrumented AH64 Apache and UH60 Blackhawk test aircraft at Fort Rucker.

Having previously completed certification testing Porvair Filtration Group submitted its new Sinterflo® F ‘robust metal mesh media’ for this test programme to demonstrate its capability to capture and retain particulate, without effecting filter replacement intervals.

Andy Cowan – Aerospace Market Manager at Porvair Filtration Group commented “The testing was a great success and clearly determined the excellent capability of this new filter media. Particulate contamination decreased from a NAS class 5 to NAS class 1, which was an outstanding result.  Not one of the indicators which signal filter change actuated during the entire test programme providing additional evidence of not only improved filter efficiency but also long filter life”.

Following the success of the first flight trials AED Engineers fitted the robust filter elements to a further 60 Apache and 70 Blackhawk training helicopters as a ‘lead the fleet’ test. The US Army was so impressed by the results it is now going to introduce a new Military Specification for both filters so that they can be used on all Army Apache and Blackhawk helicopters.

Porvair Filtration Group designs and manufactures specialist filtration components and assemblies to meet demands of the aerospace and defence industry for contamination control in hydraulic, fuel, lubrication and air systems. Our filters protect vital sub-systems such as flight controls, fuel management and fuel inerting systems, thrust reversers, braking and steering, power generation and air intakes in aircraft, helicopters, military vehicles, missiles and spacecraft.

Porvair Filtration Group is an international leader in the development and supply of materials and products for applications in filtration and separation. Their expertise in a wide range of media and the dedication of their design, manufacturing, sales, test and research teams ensure they are at the forefront of filtration technology, delivering world class performance to the Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear, Energy, Chemical Process, Industrial Process, Water Treatment, Printing and Life Science markets. With offices and manufacturing sites located in the UK, Europe and the USA combined with a world-wide network of market representatives and distributors, the company prides itself on continuous innovation and research to meet global demands.

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