AFS received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for MD 500 Series (D, E, F, and FF) helicopters, using the same technology and hardware that is installed on helicopters flying in the Iraqi desert. In addition, AFS has received an amendment to the STC for MD 500 H Series helicopters and received PMA approval in August, according to AFS Technical Director Mike Scimone.

Satisfied AFS MD 500 filter users in the airborne law community include air units in St. Louis County, Mo., and Mesa, Ariz. The system also was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its MD 500D, which operates shipboard at the extremes of tropical conditions. The system is also in use by MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) on its MD 500E demonstrator. In addition, MDHI is now offering the filtration system to its MD 500 customers as a factory-installed option.

“Reliable performance is so critical to the law enforcement mission,” Scimone said. “Police really appreciate the fact that our product filters out dirt and lowers overall operating costs while enhancing helicopter performance.”

“The AFS system allows us to perform more missions with the aircraft without stripping off mission-critical equipment,” said Derek Dunmire, Chief Pilot for the St. Louis County Police Department. “More power is available without the worry of over-temping the engine. And, since we can fly 20 knots faster with the system installed, our response time is reduced.”

“I can’t believe how clean the plenum area is since we installed the system, even after 300 hours of operation,” said Bob Lasinski, chief of maintenance for the St. Louis County Police Department. “We’re only pulling two inches of water, max, after all this time – it’s just incredible. And access to the inlet is much easier with the AFS fairing installation. This is a well-engineered system.”

AFS, a division of Westar Corporation, is an industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance engine inlet barrier filtration systems for commercial and military propulsion systems. AFS has delivered more than 300 systems and 2,000 filters to military and commercial customers worldwide.