Press Release
Issued by Dart Aerospace.
March 26, 2009
Dart Helicopter Services' announces that their subsidiary partner Apical Industries, Inc. has received Transport Canada approval for the AS350 Air Conditioning Kit. EASA approval is pending.
The AS350 Air Conditioning Kit is a complete cabin cooling solution that offers a lightweight reliable cooling system with no negative effect on aircraft performance. Apical Industries surveyed various operators about the shortcomings of their current systems and incorporated numerous improvements to address these concerns.
The kit is a significantly lighter (only 50 lbs. installed weight) and more reliable alternative to currently certified systems. Additionally, all of the main components are mounted on the transmission deck, allowing full use of the baggage compartment and increasing ease of maintenance. All of the major components can be removed for missions that do not require air conditioning. The Condenser and Evaporators are state of the art aluminum microfin heat exchangers, which allow for much higher efficiencies, lighter weight, and a more compact design than other systems. A single evaporator replaces the current double evaporator design, saving weight but providing the same cooling capacity. Additional forward overhead ducts are installed to cool the pilot and copilot from both directions.
The system utilizes a variable displacement Compressor, which increases efficiency by automatically sensing the heat load and adjusting the rate of refrigerant going through the system, thereby reducing power consumption and increasing the life of the compressor. Also, stronger compressor brackets are provided which have improved fatigue resistance over current systems, and are adjustable to allow for precise tensioning of the drive belt. In addition, the Condenser fan has been designed with a stainless steel hub to prevent fan failure and improve service life.
Benefits:
• Significantly reduced kit weight (only 50 lbs installed)
• Improved reliability
• No loss of baggage space
