The Helicopter Line’s crew are highly satisfied with the actual performance of their PUREair system and are looking forward to flying their AS350 over the most iconic New Zealand landscapes this winter. DART Aerospace Photo
DART Aerospace and its New Zealand AMC partner Heli Support NZ highlight the performance of the newly installed PA100 PUREair engine protection system for The Helicopter Line after its first periodic inspection.
Heli Support NZ owns and leases the aircraft for scenic flights and heli-ski missions to The Helicopter Line, who have multiple bases established in New Zealand. “We wanted to fit and trial a filtration system that offered the same protection as a barrier filter system but without the associated maintenance requirement,” said Jason Buick, Heli Support’s engineering manager/director. “The FOD screen was very attractive to us as well from a maintenance point of view.”
Heli Support being a DART approved maintenance center and focusing mainly on Airbus AS350s, it was crucial for DART to hear what its partner had to say about the ease of installation of the PA100 PUREair system: “After carrying out the process once, it was straight forward on subsequent installations,” Buick added. “The install is made easier since no work is required inside the cabin and no new controls are being added to the cockpit for system activation.”
Great performance feedback was also provided after the first periodic inspection by Heli Support NZ, with Buick saying, “Engine performance is equitable to barrier filter systems we operate and the condition of the inlet and axial rotor indicates we are getting efficient filtering with the PA100 system.”
The Helicopter Line’s crew are highly satisfied with the actual performance of their PUREair system and are looking forward to flying their AS350 over the most iconic New Zealand landscapes this winter.
The PA100 PUREair System, co-developed by Pall Aerospace and DART Aerospace, is a totally redesigned, reengineered, and retested engine intake protection system that is self-cleaning and virtually maintenance free unlike other barrier type air filtration systems qualified for these aircraft. The fourth generation vortex generator technology used in the PA100 PUREair system leverages the latest advancements from Pall Aerospace research and development, including 3D computational fluid dynamics, optimized system design and innovative nano-material technologies to achieve optimal engine protection for harsh operating environments.