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AFS receives Bell Helicopter premier supplier award

Sept. 2, 2008, St. Louis, Mo., – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, has recognized Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc., with its prestigious Bell Premier Supplier Award.  The award recognizes AFS for its superior business processes and world-class quality standards.

In order to qualify for the Premier status a supplier must meet numerous standards that include being AS9100 certified, delivering high-quality materials on a 98 percent frequency rate or higher, and score very high on a cross-functional inspection conducted on-site by a specialized Bell team.  AFS was selected by Bell to provide the inlet protection systems
for the new Bell 429 and ARH-70A Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. The Bell Premier Supplier Award is another method Bell Helicopter is using to improving and increasing its ability to meet customer demand. Through this process Bell will identify and recognize suppliers that are contributing to the production of improved quality and quantity of Bell
products.

AFS and Bell Helicopter have worked together for many years to develop innovative, operationally effective turbine engine protection solutions. "We are very appreciative of this fine recognition from one of our longtime customers and partners," said AFS Quality Manager Matthew Schwarz.  "Our AFS team prides itself on producing quality products and processes to best meet our customers' needs." Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

AFS is the industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance engine IBF systems for commercial and military propulsion systems.  The company manufactures certified IBF solutions for the Bell 429, 205A1, 206B, 407, 206L-3/4, 206L-1(C30), AgustaWestland A119, AW119Ke, Eurocopter AS350 B/BA/B1/B2/B3 (AS350D/SD/SD2-Soloy STC), EC130, MD Helicopters MD 369 (MD 500H/D/E/F Series) and MD 900/902 Explorer.  IBF systems for the Bell 430 as well as the AgustaWestland AW109 and AW139 are in development.  Military IBF systems from AFS include the Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, Bell UH-1H Huey, Bell OH-58A/C, Boeing AH/MH-6J/M Little Bird, Sikorsky UH-60 BLACK HAWK main engine and APU, Boeing AH-64 Apache APU, and Boeing CH-47 Chinook APU.