Eurocopter displays an EC135 P2i with a newly developed inlet barrier filter (IBF) at Heli-Expo. During the show, the aircraft was handed over to ADAC Air Rescue of Germany, the first operator to put the new system into service. It is ADAC’s 30th EC135 in total and its first to be equipped with this filter system.

ADAC Air Rescue is the launch customer for Eurocopter’s IBF solution. The system is certified by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) for the P2 and P2i versions of the EC135 (with Pratt & Whitney engines), with certification for the T versions (Turbomeca engines) expected for the third quarter of 2010. FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification for the P versions has been launched.

The IBF is developed by Eurocopter and constitutes an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) solution to increase the life time of the engines. The system filters out 99 percent of all SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) coarse dust particles which normally pollute engines of helicopters during flight. The helicopter’s AEO (All Engines Operative) performance as well as its noise level remain unaffected by this system. With only clean air being provided to the engines, compressor erosion is substantially reduced which results in a significant reduction of direct maintenance costs.

The filter box is directly mounted on the engines inlets and does not require sealings at the rotor mast and engine cowling. It is fast and easy to exchange.

A remote panel to display filter clogging indication, bypass operations in OEI (One Engine Inoperative) flight, built-in system test functions and caution and advisory indications is placed into the cockpit’s center console. The panel is fully night vision goggle compatible.

Service and inspection intervals have been harmonized with the EC135’s scheduled maintenance cycles. This means filter reconditioning (clean and re-oil) after 200 flight hours or six months, visual inspection and functional test of the entire IBF system after 400 flight hours, inspection of differential pressure sensors after 36 months, and annual inspection of the pressure leak system.

The twin-engine EC135 is a highly sophisticated, multi-purpose helicopter featuring cutting-edge technology that makes it the perfect choice for EMS and public safety missions. To date, Eurocopter has sold more than 850 EC135s to customers in 40 different countries.

Source: EADS