St. Louis, MO., March 8, 2004 – Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc. (AFS) has received the U.S. Army 2003 Aviation Materiel Readiness Award for a Contribution by a Small Business Organization. The award was presented at the 2004 Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Annual Product Support Symposium in Huntsville, Ala.

A written nomination said AFS’s “contributions to Army Aviation in the area of filtration systems are immeasurable.”

AFS is the industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance engine inlet barrier filtration systems for commercial and military propulsion systems. Patented AFS filtration systems are now in use on U.S. Army OH-58D and AH/MH-6J helicopters flying in Iraq.

The nomination cited AFS’s development of Engine Barrier Filters (EBF) for Army rotary-wing aircraft and “the significant, positive role these filters have played in improved aircraft readiness and reduced maintenance costs.”

The nomination further lauded AFS as “the technical leader in high flow engine filtration solutions, and cited the role of AFS’s barrier filters in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as “especially commendable.”

“ During the Army production contract for the OH-58D EBF program, AFS has consistently delivered on time or early to support deploying units, in some cases as early as four weeks,” according to AFS Managing Director Mike Scimone.

To date, not one of the filter-equipped helicopters flying combat missions in Iraq has lost an engine due to erosion — a true testament to the merits of AFS products and barrier filtration technology, Scimone said.

“ Our products are desert-proven, combat-proven and U.S. Army-proven,” Scimone said. “AFS is proud to help protect the equipment of those who are protecting us.”

In addition to filtering out more than 99 percent of dirt and sand, AFS filter systems actually enhance engine performance when compared to inlet particle separators, delivering more engine temperature margin, more load carrying capacity, and a greater margin of safety when and where it is needed. Other benefits include reduced operating and overhaul costs and reduced engine operating temperatures for increased engine life.

AFS has delivered more than 400 systems and 3,000 filters to military and commercial customers worldwide.

The company will display its IBF systems for Bell 407 and MD 500 aircraft at its Booth (No. 2226) at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, March 15-17. AFS representatives will also be available to answer questions in Booth 772 at the AAAA Convention, March 24-27 in Nashville, Tenn.

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