March 2026 – Sacramento, California, U.S.A. - Aerometals, a precision aerospace design and manufacturing company, has announced the successful completion of its H225 Inlet Barrier Filter (IBF) development program. The program represents a major advancement in engine protection technology for the Airbus H225 platform and is now fully transitioned into production.
Aerometals extends its appreciation to SAFRAN for their support in the flight testing effort. Appreciation is also extended to Airbus as their involvement contributed to advancing the H225 IBF through the development process.
Production has ramped up, and Aerometals is currently accepting orders. The first production units have already been delivered to Aerometals’ lead to fleet customer, Air Center Helicopters, Inc., marking the initial operational deployment of the system. Air Center also supported the program by providing an aircraft for flight testing, with Rod Tinney, CEO, serving as the flight test pilot.
“The IBF will be a game changer for Air Center Helicopters and others operating in austere conditions, especially with dust. Many of the Southwest U.S. locations we operate in have a talc-like dust that severely impacts engines that the MPAI does not filter or catch. We also encounter similar conditions in Africa where we have a ‘no fail mission’ for the U.S. Government. These IBFs will go a long way to preserve engine life and make it possible for the engines to make TBO, and maintain high operational readiness for our customer. This critical engine protection is essential when operating over 20 H225s worldwide.” — Rod M. Tinney Jr., CEO, Air Center Helicopters, Inc.
The Aerometals H225 IBF delivers a substantial improvement in filtration performance when compared to the legacy particle separator systems currently available on the market. The system achieves a 99.3% SAE coarse test dust filtration efficiency, providing superior protection against foreign object damage (FOD), erosion, fouling, and corrosion. This level of performance represents a significant increase in engine protection capability and operational reliability for H225 operators.
In addition to its filtration efficiency, the H225 IBF offers a reduced weight compared to previous systems and incorporates several advanced design features. These include an integrated bypass door, which ensures continued airflow to the engine in the event of filter blockage and removable filter elements that allow for simplified cleaning and maintenance. Constructed using composite Kevlar materials, the system is certified for bird strike protection. The system has also been thoroughly tested in inadvertent icing conditions to validate performance in adverse environments.
“The successful certification of the H225 Inlet Barrier Filter is a significant milestone for Aerometals,” said Brian Kellogg, Vice President of Aerometals. “This program is yet another example of our ability to take a complex, safety-critical system through design, qualification, and flight testing while delivering measurable improvements in engine protection. We’re proud to bring H225 operators a lighter, more efficient IBF solution that enhances reliability and protects asset investments in operation all over the world.”
Aerometals will host an H225 IBF product unveiling at Verticon in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 10th at 1:30 PM, located at booth #B1823. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the system’s capabilities and discuss availability with the Aerometals team.
About Aerometals:
Based in a suburb of Sacramento, California, Aerometals’ headquarters include a 150,000 square foot manufacturing and production campus with over 175 highly skilled employees. Aerometals is a civil, commercial, and military aerospace manufacturer offering PMA parts and components, engineering, testing, precision assembly, obsolescence recovery, and long-term support.
Additional information regarding Aerometals and its capabilities can be found at www.aerometals.aero.
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