Maintenance and Modifications
SAE To Tackle Helicopter IBF Standards
The FAA has asked SAE to work through two of the more difficult issues as it attempts to complete a policy statement on IBF installation.
The has tasked SAE with developing a recommended practice standard on an alternative means to substantiate that an inlet barrier filter modification on a helicopter does not exceed engine inlet distortion limits. Even though it has been trying to draft a policy statement on IBFs for some time, Donaldson Aerospace & Defense still received U.S. approval for its dry media IBF for the Bell 407 in July. (Photo: Donaldson Aerospace & Defense)
The has tasked SAE with developing a recommended practice standard on an alternative means to substantiate that an inlet barrier filter modification on a helicopter does not exceed engine inlet distortion limits. Even though it has been trying to draft a policy statement on IBFs for some time, Donaldson Aerospace & Defense still received U.S. approval for its dry media IBF for the Bell 407 in July. (Photo: Donaldson Aerospace & Defense)

The U.S. FAA, which has long been working on a policy statement for rotorcraft inlet barrier filter (IBF) installation, has turned to SAE International for help on two technical aspects. SAE was tasked with developing a recommended practice standard on an alternative means to substantiate that the IBF modification does not exceed engine inlet distortion limits. The FAA also asked SAE to define a means to determine and verify power availability for IBF-equipped rotorcraft.