
AW189. Photo courtesy of Leonardo
The European Aviation Safety Agency has certified inlet barrier filters (IBFs) by Donaldson Aerospace & Defense for installation on new Leonardo AW189 heavy-lift helicopters, the company said Oct. 16.
IBFs are designed to protect the performance and reliability of helicopter engines and auxiliary power units from the effects of contamination, including dirt, dust, salt and foreign objects.
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“Our innovative filtration technology, featuring Synteq XP synthetic non-woven media, is ideally suited to this advanced technology helicopter,” Dan Larsen, general manager of Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, said in a statement.
Synteq XP "provides the highest filtration performance, exceptional dirt holding capacity and great stability," Larsen said, adding that the filter’s differential pressure is reduced significantly and additional energy savings can be achieved. In addition, the AW189 IBF systems feature differential pressure transducers that provide continuous status of filter health, according to Donaldson.
Donaldson IBFs are also approved as a factory option on new AW139 helicopters and are available to the aftermarket.