Pall and Turbomeca Launch Centrisep EAPS Upgrade to Enhance Engine Protection for Squirrel Helicopters

Feb. 22, 2010
Desert trials have proven that it provides advanced engine protection for one of the world’s leading civil helicopters.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL), a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, and Turbomeca, the leading helicopter engine manufacturer, announce the availability of a certified upgrade of the Centrisep® engine advanced protection system (EAPS) for AS350 series helicopters. The upgrade has significantly higher dust separation efficiency than the original design. Desert trials have proven that it provides advanced engine protection for one of the world’s leading civil helicopters.

The AS350 Squirrel aircraft, produced by Eurocopter, the world’s number one manufacturer of civil and parapublic helicopters, is powered by a Turbomeca engine. The Centrisep EAPS upgrade fits the entire range of AS350s, including the EC130 and AS355, and is qualified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) EASA.R.S. 00753, June 2005. Over 250 sets of this latest system have already been shipped to 26 helicopter operators, including 11 in North America.

John Mandernach, vice president of maintenance, Maverick Helicopters, Las Vegas, commented, “We have installed 18 Centrisep EAPS upgrades and accumulated over 25,000 flying hours, and have experienced better performance than with the barrier filters we used previously. The Pall system is virtually maintenance-free. There are no extensive inspections or filter cleaning needed, no expensive by-pass door motors are required, and no differential pressure switches or filters elements to replace.”

Pall’s Centrisep EAPS protects helicopter engines from airborne contamination by utilizing centrifugal force to continuously remove particles, such as sand, dust and salt spray, before they can enter the engine air intake. The technology extends the life of a helicopter engine against erosion, while enhancing engine safety, reliability, availability and performance. The AS350 Centrisep EAPS is a “Fit and Forget,” environmentally sustainable solution. Unlike other systems, there is no need for regular maintenance and cleaning, and the unit is certified for inadvertent entry into icing conditions without the need for complicated by-pass doors.

“Pall’s Centrisep engine advanced protection system is the filtration standard for peak helicopter engine performance. The Centrisep EAPS upgrade for AS350 aircraft utilizes the latest advances in filtration design technology to maximize dust removal efficiency. It is an example of Pall’s ability to partner with OEMs to customize filtration solutions for their individual equipment needs,” said Jim Western, president, Pall Aerospace.

Retrofit kits are available for the 1,000-plus AS350s currently fitted with the previous Centrisep EAPS design.

Over 40,000 helicopters are in service worldwide, excluding piston-powered, single-engine craft. Industry forecasts project over $14 billion revenue in helicopter production in 2010.

Pall Aerospace provides fluid filtration and separation solutions for a broad range of military and commercial aircraft. Its filter products are used on all major rotorcraft brands worldwide. Centrisep EAPSs have been protecting helicopter engines since the 1960s. Over fifty different designs have been certified and operate worldwide.

To learn more about the Centrisep EAPS visit Pall Aerospace at Heli-Expo 2010 in booth #1538, go to www.pall.com/Centrisep, or email [email protected].

About Pall Corporation

Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing Total Fluid ManagementSM solutions to meet the critical needs of customers in biopharmaceutical, hospital and transfusion medicine, energy and alternative energy, electronics, municipal and industrial water, aerospace, transportation and broad industrial markets. Together with our customers, we foster health, safety and environmentally responsible technologies. The Company’s engineered solutions enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste. Pall Corporation, with total revenues of $2.3 billion for fiscal 2009, is an S&P 500 company with more than 10,000 employees servicing customers worldwide. Pall has been named a top "green company" by Newsweek magazine. To see how Pall is helping enable a greener and more sustainable future, visit www.pal.com.

About Turbomeca

Turbomeca (SAFRAN Group) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer, and has produced over 50,000 turbines based on its own designs since the company was founded. With 2,350 customers in over 155 countries, Turbomeca provides a proximity service thanks to its 15 sites, 26 TurboSupport Centers, 24 repair centers and 90 Field representatives and Field technicians. The Head Office is based in Bordes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques (south-west France). Microturbo, the subsidiary of Turbomeca, is the European leader in turbojet engines for missiles, drones and auxiliary power units. For more information, visit www.turbomeca.com and www.safran-group.com.