Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a division of Donaldson Company, Inc., has announced it will display four models of its proven inlet barrier filter (IBF) system this week at Helitech International 2016 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Donaldson IBF system offers rotorcraft operators dramatic cuts in maintenance costs while preserving more engine power in the most challenging operating environments.
The Donaldson exhibit at Helitech, which runs Oct. 11 to 13 at the Amsterdam RAI, will display IBF systems for the AgustaWestland AW139, Airbus H125, Bell B407 and the Sikorsky UH-60. Donaldson experts will be at the company exhibit to answer questions about the IBF systems and other filtration solutions.
“The IBF system offers significantly better engine protection and performance than traditional sand filters or inertial particle separators without performance or drag penalties,” said Lars Hesbjerg, global director of sales for Donaldson Aerospace and Defense. He stressed that Donaldson’s IBF systems, which typically require minimal installation modifications, eliminate 99 percent of foreign object debris, dirt, and other threats that reduce engine power and damage critical components.
Many European companies operate their rotorcraft in a wide range of environments and face challenges from salt water along European coastlines, ash particles from volcanic ash in Italy and as far away as Iceland, and snow in the Alps.
Elicompany Srl, based in Budrione, Italy, which installed Donaldson IBFs on part of its Bell 407 fleet in mid-2015, has cited numerous gains in the past year since Bell recommended the IBF system. According to Elicompany, the need for protection on the B407 is important because the engine position leaves it vulnerable to environmental threats.
“We recently compared our B407 aircraft equipped with the IBF with the engine on another aircraft and found the IBF-equipped B407 to be clear of salt deposits and erosion,” said Elicompany technician Sandro Riccitelli. “That is a benefit for our company because Elicompany routinely operates air tourism routes along Italy’s coastal regions.”
Riccitelli said IBF-equipped aircraft engines now require less time to wash, and damage to the engine due to particle/salt ingestion, which erodes compressor blades, has been virtually eliminated.
“We have already told other operators about the IBF due to the benefits we have seen in just over a year,” he said. “It’s a little too early to estimate cost savings, but we are convinced the savings should be significant over time.”
