The next time you fly to your vacation destination, see an army chopper glide overhead or witness the speed of a supercharged jet, take a moment to think about all the parts that make them work. Most folks do not know that there is a hidden industry of suppliers behind the scenes, ensuring the safe performance of these necessary vehicles and planes.
For example, just like your car contains an oil filter, air filter and fuel filter, supercharged aircraft, aquatic machines and army choppers have their own filters that need to be serviced. Part of that process is replacing a multitude of specially-designed filters. And contrary to the common filter systems in our personal automobiles, the filters in military aircraft and high performance flying machines can't be purchased at the local auto supply shop.
The filters produced for military aircraft vary. Although one type of aircraft might require wire mesh filters, another might require a coalescing filter or a filter element. Almost all aircraft filters are custom-designed for the plane it is made for and doesn't work in other applications.
Stainless steel filters are frequently used in situations where disposable filtration systems simply don't cut it. The stainless steel filter mesh of a these filters is made up of many sections that are able to withstand extreme temperatures, greater pressure demands and corrosive chemicals that would damage disposable filtration systems. Typical uses are helicopters and military aircraft.
So who manufactures the filtration systems that make sure our country's army fleet or even the Space Shuttle run properly? AS9100 certified companies manufacture aerospace filters and other parts for the US government, such as parts utilized on army helicopters and the Space Shuttle. The US military and most industrialized nations won't contract with companies that are not as9100 certified, since they haven't demonstrated the standard of development necessary for safe operations. Companies that adopt the established protocols are also called NADCAP approved suppliers because they have undergone rigorous testing procedures and demonstrated a knowledge of the specialized procedures for these demanding vehicles.