Products
Innovative EC135 Inlet Barrier Filter Design

Sept. 14, 2009 – St. Louis, Missouri, Sept. 14, 2009 – Aerospace
Filtration Systems, Inc. (AFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Donaldson
Company, Inc. and division of the Aerospace and Defense Group,
announces a new partnership with Metro Aviation of Shreveport, La., on
the development of an innovative Eurocopter EC135 Inlet Barrier Filter
(IBF) system. The new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approved
product is scheduled for certification in time for the Helicopter
Association International’s (HAI) HELI-EXPO 2010.

Donaldson's Aerospace and Defense Group is leading the design and
development program with assistance from Metro Aviation along with an
initial order for the first five kits to serve Metro’s completion
customers and its operational fleet. The IBF system features multiple
long-life filter assemblies that are internally mounted to the existing
EC135 cowlings, resulting in no drag penalties and no potential for
environmental harm associated with externally mounted designs.
 
“By utilizing the existing Eurocopter inlet design, we are able to
capitalize on the ram recovery characteristics without sacrifice to the
internal component cooling margin afforded by airflow over the
transmission and associated drive train,” said Michael Scimone,
President of AFS. "We are focused on the optimal configuration for the
EC135 helicopter with a minimal amount of modification and weight. We
are very aware of the critical importance of useful load on this
multi-mission aircraft, especially in Helicopter Emergency Medical
Service (HEMS) operations.”
 
This project brings together two rotorcraft industry leaders, each
continuing its longtime commitment to providing the best solutions for
customers. “The partnership between Metro Aviation and Donaldson
Aerospace and Defense was a natural progression. Often through
collaboration, the best companies in a select industry provide the best
products,” commented Milton Geltz, Metro Aviation Managing Director.
“Metro wants to maintain its position as a leader in customer
satisfaction and pioneering technology, as proven with our new EC135
air conditioning system, and this new IBF design continues the lineage
of our leadership.”
 
Donaldson Aerospace and Defense is the industry leader in the design,
development and manufacture of high-performance engine IBF systems for
commercial and military propulsion systems. Through AFS, we manufacture
certified IBF solutions for the MD Helicopters MD 369H Series, MD
500D/E/F and MD 900/902; Eurocopter EC130, AS350 B/BA/B1/B2/B3, AS350’s
with Soloy or Heli-Lynx Honeywell engine conversions; AgustaWestland
AW119 Koala, AW119Ke; Bell 205A1, 206B, 407, 206L-3/4 and 206L-1(C30).
IBF systems for the Eurocopter EC135, AgustaWestland AW139, AW109 Power
and Grand as well as the Bell 430, and Bell 206L are in development.
 
Visit Donaldson Aerospace and Defense at the upcoming Helitech 2009 in
Duxford, United Kingdom, Sept. 22-24, 2009. To learn more about
Donaldson and AFS, visit www.donaldson.aero or contact us at 636-300-5200.