PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., 8 March 2013. Pall Corp. (NYSE:PLL) and DART Aerospace plan to initiate flight testing on a jointly developed, next-generation “Fit and Forget” advanced engine air filtration system for AS350 and EC130 helicopter models with Arriel engines.
The new AS350/EC130 Advanced Engine Air Filtration System is designed to provide helicopter engine protection and enhance safety, reliability, availability, and performance by reducing erosion and other contamination-related damage.
Featuring Pall’s Centrisep technology, the Fit and Forget system will be self-cleaning and virtually maintenance free, unlike other filtration systems qualified for this aircraft.
“We’re excited and looking forward to the first flight trial on the AS350/EC130 helicopter project and expanding our collaboration with DART to improve engine protection and safety for many other aircraft models,” says Gabriel Popa, vice president, Pall Aerospace Europe. “Recent advances in design technology have enabled us to develop a more efficient Centrisep EAPS with reduced power loss and greater protection for engines.”
DART has developed a composite fairing for the new system and has shared its expertise in system integration, certification, sales, marketing, and customer support with Pall.
DART aims to obtain a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the FAA by the end of 2013 and subsequent certifications from other regional authorities.
Pall’s latest Centrisep design improvements increase dust separation efficiency and reduce the accumulation of fine particles inside the unit, reducing the potential for unscheduled removals. It protects the engine against rain, snow, salt spray, and hot gas ingestion.
This latest design will incorporate a secondary screen filter that prevents damage from foreign objects (FOD) even when the engine cover is open. The Centrisep unit is certified for inadvertent entry into icing conditions without the complication of heavy bypass doors. Missions can be launched and completed without filter bypass procedures or aborting the operation.
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