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Super role for Donaldson inlet barrier filters
February 4, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
Feb. 4, 2011, St. Louis, Mo. - 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.
