Donaldson, March 02, 2016 - LOUISVILLE, KY — Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a subsidiary of Donaldson Company, Inc. announced today that its Universal Filter Module (UFM) has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for installation and use on Sikorsky Aircraft S-61 and H-3 helicopters.
The FAA issued the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for an Inlet Barrier Filter System (IBF) to The Coulson Group of Companies, which co-developed the S-61/H-3 installation along with Donaldson. The UFM is a subsystem of the IBF, which will protect engines on those helicopters from 99 percent of airborne contaminants with minimal loss in hover performance.
A Port Alberni, British Columbia-headquartered business, Coulson operates S-61s in Azerbaijan, British Columbia and Australia’s state of Victoria. The Coulson Group obtained a Canadian STC for the system from Transport Canada in mid-2015.
Upon receiving FAA certification, Donaldson and Coulson announced that aviation services leader AAR Airlift had ordered four systems and plans to purchase five more units plus sparing in the coming months. Given its expertise and operations in austere environments, AAR plans to use the IBFs on its nine S-61N helicopters currently operating in Africa.
Donaldson will display its latest filtration system products, including the UFM, March 1-3 in Exhibit 2400 during the 2016 HAI HELI-EXPO annual gathering in Louisville, Ky.
In addition to the S-61/H-3, the UFM can be adapted to a wide range of heavy, twin-engine helicopters, including the Mil Mi8/17 series and Airbus Helicopters Super Puma series.
“As part of the first Inlet Barrier Filter available for the S-61 and H-3, the UFM will protect the safety, reliability and efficiency of these and other workhorse helicopters,” said Matt Fortuna, General Manager of Donaldson Aerospace & Defense. “We were proud to team with Coulson to add critical capabilities needed by helicopter fleet operators around the world who perform essential missions for civilian, governmental and military customers.”
Donaldson developed the UFM’s filter modules to prevent dirt, dust, sand and foreign objects from damaging helicopters’ engines and degrading their performance. Coulson developed the aircraft interface (or “A kit”) for installation on the Sikorsky helicopters. S-61s and H-3s perform missions around the world ranging from firefighting, logging and VIP transport to anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and search and rescue, often flying in extremely challenging conditions.
The UFM system includes a low-drag filtration solution that is mounted forward of the engine inlets, and three filter elements that are easily accessible and removable for service (with a 4,500-hour service life). It also includes a translating, forward-facing dome for emergency bypass – an important feature absent in most traditional sand filters and particle separators.
A simple and compact cockpit switch, common with existing Donaldson certified Inlet Barrier Filter systems, allows indication and activation of the bypass system. An Integral Filter Maintenance Aid also allows for on-condition inspections pre- and post-flight to assist in mission planning and visual inspection of filter condition.
To learn more about the Donaldson Aerospace & Defense group, visit www.DonaldsonAerospace-Defense.com.
About Donaldson Aerospace & Defense: The Donaldson Aerospace & Defense business unit is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems for the aerospace and defense industry. Our filtration solutions protect fixed wing aircraft, rotorcraft, military ground vehicles, electronic equipment, space vehicles, missiles, military shipboard systems and amphibious vehicles. We are committed to advancing filtration technology, and providing quality products and prompt customer service. Our group serves customers from sales, engineering and manufacturing locations around the world. For more information, visit www.donaldsonaerospace-defense.com.
About Donaldson Company: Founded in 1915 and based in Bloomington, MN, Donaldson (NYSE:DCI) is a global leader in the filtration industry with approximately 140 sales, manufacturing and distribution locations in 44 countries. Donaldson’s innovative filtration technologies improve people’s lives, enhance Customers’ equipment performance and protect the environment.
About Coulson Group: Coulson Group, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, is diverse and family-owned. It consists of companies in the Forestry, Lumber, Manufacturing, Gaming and Aviation industries, with a current employee base of over 250. The first Coulson Group company was founded in 1960.
Coulson is the longest commercial operator of the S-61 in North America with over 140,000 safe flight hours. The Coulson’s Aviation companies specialize in Aerial firefighting worldwide, and operate a Commercial fleet of firefighting C-130H Hercules aircraft and Sikorsky S-61 helicopters in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The FAA issued the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for an Inlet Barrier Filter System (IBF) to The Coulson Group of Companies, which co-developed the S-61/H-3 installation along with Donaldson. The UFM is a subsystem of the IBF, which will protect engines on those helicopters from 99 percent of airborne contaminants with minimal loss in hover performance.
A Port Alberni, British Columbia-headquartered business, Coulson operates S-61s in Azerbaijan, British Columbia and Australia’s state of Victoria. The Coulson Group obtained a Canadian STC for the system from Transport Canada in mid-2015.
Upon receiving FAA certification, Donaldson and Coulson announced that aviation services leader AAR Airlift had ordered four systems and plans to purchase five more units plus sparing in the coming months. Given its expertise and operations in austere environments, AAR plans to use the IBFs on its nine S-61N helicopters currently operating in Africa.
Donaldson will display its latest filtration system products, including the UFM, March 1-3 in Exhibit 2400 during the 2016 HAI HELI-EXPO annual gathering in Louisville, Ky.
In addition to the S-61/H-3, the UFM can be adapted to a wide range of heavy, twin-engine helicopters, including the Mil Mi8/17 series and Airbus Helicopters Super Puma series.
“As part of the first Inlet Barrier Filter available for the S-61 and H-3, the UFM will protect the safety, reliability and efficiency of these and other workhorse helicopters,” said Matt Fortuna, General Manager of Donaldson Aerospace & Defense. “We were proud to team with Coulson to add critical capabilities needed by helicopter fleet operators around the world who perform essential missions for civilian, governmental and military customers.”
Donaldson developed the UFM’s filter modules to prevent dirt, dust, sand and foreign objects from damaging helicopters’ engines and degrading their performance. Coulson developed the aircraft interface (or “A kit”) for installation on the Sikorsky helicopters. S-61s and H-3s perform missions around the world ranging from firefighting, logging and VIP transport to anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and search and rescue, often flying in extremely challenging conditions.
The UFM system includes a low-drag filtration solution that is mounted forward of the engine inlets, and three filter elements that are easily accessible and removable for service (with a 4,500-hour service life). It also includes a translating, forward-facing dome for emergency bypass – an important feature absent in most traditional sand filters and particle separators.
A simple and compact cockpit switch, common with existing Donaldson certified Inlet Barrier Filter systems, allows indication and activation of the bypass system. An Integral Filter Maintenance Aid also allows for on-condition inspections pre- and post-flight to assist in mission planning and visual inspection of filter condition.
To learn more about the Donaldson Aerospace & Defense group, visit www.DonaldsonAerospace-Defense.com.
About Donaldson Aerospace & Defense: The Donaldson Aerospace & Defense business unit is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems for the aerospace and defense industry. Our filtration solutions protect fixed wing aircraft, rotorcraft, military ground vehicles, electronic equipment, space vehicles, missiles, military shipboard systems and amphibious vehicles. We are committed to advancing filtration technology, and providing quality products and prompt customer service. Our group serves customers from sales, engineering and manufacturing locations around the world. For more information, visit www.donaldsonaerospace-defense.com.
About Donaldson Company: Founded in 1915 and based in Bloomington, MN, Donaldson (NYSE:DCI) is a global leader in the filtration industry with approximately 140 sales, manufacturing and distribution locations in 44 countries. Donaldson’s innovative filtration technologies improve people’s lives, enhance Customers’ equipment performance and protect the environment.
About Coulson Group: Coulson Group, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, is diverse and family-owned. It consists of companies in the Forestry, Lumber, Manufacturing, Gaming and Aviation industries, with a current employee base of over 250. The first Coulson Group company was founded in 1960.
Coulson is the longest commercial operator of the S-61 in North America with over 140,000 safe flight hours. The Coulson’s Aviation companies specialize in Aerial firefighting worldwide, and operate a Commercial fleet of firefighting C-130H Hercules aircraft and Sikorsky S-61 helicopters in the United States, Canada and Australia.
See also |
S-61 H-3 in
Coulson Aircrane 
FAA Federal Aviation Administration 
Helicopters Parts Donaldson State of Minnesota 
