50-Pound Weight Savings Reported

Aerometals has received FAA STC authorization for the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter engine inlet barrier filter (EIBF) following a comprehensive testing program.

Based on the original S-92 EIBF developed by Aerometals, the company now offers an improved system to protect H-60 turbine engines from erosion, FOD damage, fouling and corrosion. Aircraft operating offshore or in salt laden environments can benefit from a 96.8% airborne salt nuclei separation protection efficiency.

The exhaustive testing and validation protocol reportedly involved the latest computational fluid dynamics modeling as well as bird strike analysis for improved safety and protection. Possible benefits of the Aerometals EIBF over legacy systems include a 50-pound weight savings, no impact to ram air cooling, no airspeed correction charts, no parasitic drag, and a fuel burn improvement of up to 40 pounds per hour.

Constructed of metallic and Kevlar components, the result is negligible OML excursion and no pitot tube interference experienced with legacy systems for the H-60 airframe. The H-60 STC is also applicable to the S-70 airframe with no performance penalty, and on demand cleaning interval, with an overall lifetime of up to 4500 hours.

Company President and CEO, Ms. Lorie Symon commented, "Aerometals is proud of this significant achievement of offering a new generation engine protection system for H-60 operators. We would also like to thank the City of San Diego Fire/Rescue Department and their flight professionals for their continuing support".

FMI: www.aerometals.aero