ARH-70A IBF Shown At Army Aviation Assoc. Of America 2008

Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc. tells ANN the company is displaying its new Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) for the US Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), the Bell ARH-70A, at the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) convention in National Harbor, MD this week.

The system architecture developed by Bell Helicopter and AFS was selected for detail design and production in February 2006. Since initiation of the program, AFS has delivered development and production representative kits to Bell.

"The system utilizes state-of-the-art technology and is a product of the great working relationship AFS has developed with helicopter OEMs such as Bell," said Michael Scimone, president of AFS. "For this effort, Bell put its confidence in AFS to develop an advanced aero structure component including a current technology IBF system."

AFS tells Aero-News the ARH-70A IBF incorporates all the lessons learned from over a million flight hours on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, along with advanced concepts to mitigate icing conditions, improve cruise performance and the capability to utilize both wet and dry filter media. The IBF's electrical components, which include a new technology actuator, required qualification to the latest electromagnetic interference protection requirements and environmental compatibility levels.

More than 3,000 AFS IBF systems are in operation worldwide for a wide variety of commercial and military aircraft and have flown more than one million flight hours. AFS IBF's are protecting helicopter engines operating in corporate charter, air medical, firefighting, seismic/utility, military and various other mission types.

FMI: www.afsfilters.com, www.donaldson.com