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New police helicopter features Africa’s first Donaldson IBF
February 10, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
Feb. 10, 2012, St. Louis, Mo. - The first AS350B3e in Africa is flying with the first Donaldson AS350B3e Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) system on the continent.
Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) delivered the advanced filtration system via Eurocopter South Africa for installation on the Kenya Police Air-Wing’s new aircraft.
Donaldson’s AS350 IBF will be on display in Exhibit 8451 during Heli-Expo 2012, Feb. 12-14 in Dallas, Texas.
The Kenya Police Air-Wing joins Donaldson customers across Africa protecting their helicopter engines with Donaldson IBFs, including Council for GeoScience, Lady Lori Helicopters, South African Police Service, Government Air Transport Namibia, and New Resolution Geophysics/Wild Dog Helicopters, among others.
Donaldson’s AS350B3e IBF Supplemental Type Certificate approvals cover both single hydraulic aircraft (PN#112005-101) and dual hydraulic aircraft (PN#121001-101) with the Turbomeca Arriel 2D engine.
With this added IBF solution, Eurocopter operators can obtain maximum engine protection while reaping performance benefits from proven Donaldson technology. Expansion of the STC allows operators to maintain fleet commonality while operating different AS350 models equipped with Donaldson IBFs.
“We are proud to provide cutting-edge barrier filtration solutions for new and existing aircraft throughout Africa,” said Robert Stenberg, Business Development Director at Donaldson St. Louis. “We continue to help our customers reduce operating costs in challenging economic times.”
The Donaldson AS350B3e IBF is in operation worldwide and carries approvals from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Brazil’s ANAC and European EASA.
Donaldson IBF systems for the Eurocopter AS350B3e feature an easily removed flat filter assembly and integral bypass design – both are readily installed into existing cowl designs without burdensome cowling alterations. A filter maintenance aid allows for on-condition status checks between established cleaning intervals, eliminating unnecessary service. No restrictions are imposed for flight in falling or blowing snow or with visible moisture in non-icing conditions. Users of the Donaldson IBF systems will realize better engine protection and performance over that offered by traditional sand filters.
