Story ID: 601_AeroSekur_Paris.doc
Growing Aero Sekur Adds Helicopter Flotation System
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: The new flotation system is for AgustaWestland A139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters.
Word Count: 307
Safety equipment specialist Aero Sekur has expanded its facilities on both sides of the Atlantic. The Italy-based group also reported successful completion of testing for a new family of flotation devices developed for AgustaWestland’s AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters.

Initial ground testing of the flotation system was conducted on an AW169 aircraft, and Aero Sekur (Hall 1 Stand F297) is now pressing ahead with full certification for the equipment. The company specializes in the design, development and manufacture of integrated emergency flotation systems comprising floats plus rafts.

“The design philosophy adopted by Aero Sekur is intended to ensure that commonalities are widely adopted by the company’s external life raft and flotation system products. This reduces the development and qualification timeline, associated costs and parts count,” said Aero Sekur’s head of strategic marketing Roberto Simonetti. “Lower life-cycle costs are also brought about by the new design, thanks to the same maintenance policy and tools.”

Aero Sekur recently opened a new U.S. aftermarket support facility in Pensacola, Florida. The site is stocked with spare parts available for same-day dispatch.

The new operation also will provide training and maintenance services. Military customers for its maintenance shelters and environmental conditioning units will get support for maintenance, repair and overhaul, training and spares.

At the end of 2014, Aero Sekur opened a new inflatable shelter manufacturing plant in the Camania region of Italy. The new factory works in tandem with the company’s Sekur Sistemi location in Genoa, Italy, which designs and manufactures environmental control systems. The inflatable shelters can be provided for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

Aero Sekur also makes products such as lightweight, crashworthy fuel tanks, valve/inflation systems and parachutes. It is involved in a variety of aviation, defense and space programs.