St. Louis, MO., Feb. 22, 2006 – Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc. (AFS) has been selected by Agusta Aerospace Corporation to develop and certify a high-performance inlet barrier filter (IBF) system for the Agusta A119 Koala helicopter. 

“The selection introduces high-performance IBF technology to the rugged A119 platform backed by the industry leadership of AFS,” said Michael Scimone, president of AFS.

AFS is targeting a mid-2006 certification for the new IBF system to support existing Koala customers and future deliveries. The straightforward modular design of the system allows a direct replacement for the Foreign Object Debris (FOD) screen or Engine Air Particle Separator (EAPS). The new A119 Koala IBF system features easy-to-clean flat filters, integral bypass system, and a maintenance aid for on-condition service intervals.

Filtering out more than 99 percent of dirt and sand, AFS barrier filtration systems have been proven by both commercial and military operators in more than 500,000 flight hours including high tempo desert combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Barrier filter systems actually enhance engine performance when compared to traditional particle separators, deliver more engine temperature margin (thus more load carrying capacity), and provide a greater margin of safety. Additional benefits include reduced operating and overhaul costs and reduced engine operating temperatures for increased engine life. Proven technology for the most demanding mission, AFS filters are available for many applications with new systems being introduced throughout 2006.

About Aerospace Filtrations Systems, Inc.

AFS is the rotorcraft industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance engine IBF systems for commercial and military rotorcraft propulsion systems. AFS has delivered more than 1,300 systems and 12,000 filters to military and commercial customers worldwide for main engine inlets and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) inlets. In addition to the Agusta A119 system, the company also produces certified commercial filtration systems for the Bell 206B, Bell 407, Bell 206L-3/4, Bell 206L-1/C30 and MD 369 (MD 500H/D/E/F Series).  AFS military systems are available for the Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, Bell UH-1H Huey, Bell OH-58A/C, Boeing AH/MH-6J/M Little Bird, Sikorsky UH-60 BLACK HAWK main engine and APU, Boeing AH-64 Apache APU, and Boeing CH-47 Chinook APU.

AFS will display its IBF systems at booth 1289 at Heli-Expo, Feb. 26-28 in Dallas, Texas.

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For more information, contact:

Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc.
Jay Foster
Engineering Sales and Marketing
(636) 300-5050
foster@afsfilters.com