While thousands enjoy one of the sports world’s most popular annual events, air crews with the Dallas Police Department’s (DPD) Helicopter Unit will be patrolling the skies over this year’s Super Bowl.  On every flight, while these airborne law enforcers carry out their vital public safety missions, Inlet Barrier Filters (IBFs) from Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), are protecting the engines of the unit’s Bell 206B helicopters.  Donaldson’s growing breadth of products for rotorcraft operators like the DPD includes proven engine air and liquid filtration solutions.

The IBFs were part of a recent equipment upgrade to the DPD’s Bell 206B patrol ships, enabling crews to fly with maximum power available and maximum engine protection. DPD chose to remove its original, more restrictive inlet protection system, in favor of the inlet barrier filters, allowing better airflows and capture of engine-damaging fine grit.

In the extreme heat of the Dallas summer, DPD crews will have added performance margins thanks to the IBFs.  Texas-based United Rotorcraft Solutions completed the installation of the inlet barrier filter kits and other DPD equipment upgrades.

Operators worldwide continue to improve engine protection on their 206B/OH-58 series aircraft including the U.S. Army’s Ft. Rucker training fleet as well as private individuals and public safety operators alike.  Pilots regularly experience significant engine temperature reductions operating the Donaldson IBF compared with particle separators, while the well-engineered IBF allows performance planning to Basic Inlet/FOD Screen charts.  External filter access also improves field maintenance operations, meaning no cowl removals and easy plenum visualization for inspections.

With these and other benefits in mind, helicopter operators worldwide turn to Donaldson Aerospace & Defense to best protect their aircraft power plant and other vital 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 as well as the Bell 206L are currently in development.

Visit Donaldson Aerospace & Defense at the upcoming Heli-Expo 2011, Booth: #4428 in Orlando, Florida, March 5-7, 2011.

To learn more about the Donaldson Aerospace & Defense group, visit www.donaldson.aero or www.afs.donaldson.com.

About Donaldson Aerospace & Defense

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense 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.