Press Release

Issued by Dart Aerospace.

April 13, 2009

Dart Helicopter Services' has announced that their affiliated partner, DART Aerospace Ltd., has received EASA certification of the Round-I-BeamTM Skidtube for BO 105 aircraft.  FAA and Transport Canada STC's have been previously received.

DART designed the Round-I-BeamTM skidtube because conventional skidtubes are under-designed for the types of landings most helicopters encounter.  Conventional skidtubes tend to puncture, dent, and bend when faced with the critical loading conditions encountered when landing on uneven ground.

DART's revolutionary patented Round-I-BeamTM technology combines the conventional round tube with the strength of the I-beam made from 6061-T6 aluminum.

The central I-beam web absorbs most of the impact on landing so the tube maintains its integrity. Even with the addition of a central web, the weight is comparable to that of conventional skidtubes.

The DART Round-I-BeamTM Skidtube was designed to accommodate the extreme conditions involved in military use.