Fresh Air Vent Kits Approved for EC130 Helicopters

DART Helicopter Services has announced that the FAA has approved its Fresh Air Vent Kits for EC130 model helicopters. The company said that EASA approval is also already underway and is expected to be received by end of fourth quarter, while Transport Canada approval is expected in the first quarter of 2013.

DART’s Fresh Air Vent Kit is a lightweight, low-cost and innovative solution to the ventilation problem common to EC130 model aircraft, providing an auxiliary means of circulating fresh air in the cabin.  The installation modifies the chin window to add a vent that also may be tied into the existing air conditioning system vents.  The vent can be opened or closed using an electric switch mounted on the instrument panel and provides for auxiliary air flow during normal operation or extra circulation in the case of an air conditioning system failure.  

There are two primary kit options: the air can be directed into the cabin through a distribution duct at the chin window or a second configuration is available that adds vents to the instrument panel that are fed directly by the Fresh Air Vent. 

This announcement follows the news earlier this week that the Brazilian ANAC has approved its A119/AW119MKII Cable Cutters Kit. FAA and EASA approvals were previously received and Transport Canada approval is pending.

The Cable Cutters Kit offered by DART provides a new alternative to other kits on the market. The system provides a means of protecting the helicopter during a cable/wire strike by providing the capability to cut a cable/wire before catastrophic damage occurs. The kit is designed to reduce the possibly of a cable/wire entering the cockpit and to reduce the chance of flight control damage. Similar cable/wire cutting devices have proven to be effective even during multiple wire strikes. The kit incorporates both an upper and lower cutter and each cutter is designed with high strength cutting blades. The cutter design was tested to verify the capability to cut multiple cables with a combined tensile strength of 32,100 lbs. The kit also contains machined deflectors for the wiper posts and fresh air scoop.