The Kilroy founders; Nick Olmsted, Erich Hopkins and Mike Borfitz, have over 80 years of collective experience in completing Type Certificate, Production Certificate, Parts Manufacturer Authorization (PMA), Technical Standard Orders (TSO) and Supplemental Type Certificate (TC/STC) projects, and we have held critical positions in industry and in the FAA. We are all Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs), experts in product and certification plan development and management. Kilroy Aviation is on track for our Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) through the FAA New York Aircraft Certification Office Branch. We specialize in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) type certification, including special airworthiness certificates, building and managing certification plans and facilitation of FAA communications.
Mike Borfitz
Chief Executive Officer
Mike is a Vietnam war veteran, and life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE), he earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1980. Mr. Borfitz is the CEO of Kilroy Aviation, based at Salisbury Regional Airport, MD. He is an ODA Administrator and Management Designated Engineering Representative (DER) with FAA delegated authority to approve data in the technical disciplines of Flight Test and Powerplant, Parts 23 and 25. His 42 years of engineering experience includes 23 years of public service with the FAA and 13 years with the Boeing Company, plus a wide variety of private experience as a contract DER and regulatory & safety consultant. He is in demand as an expert witness in civil litigation involving aviation safety as well as type and production certification. He has written a variety of articles on subjects such as FAA certification of unmanned aerial systems (drones), FAA safety, certification and delegation.
Erich Hopkins
VP Operations & Regulatory Compliance
Erich brings over four decades of aviation and engineering expertise to Kilroy Aviation. Beginning as a draftsman in 1980 while in college, he developed expertise in avionics integration, oil field survey tools, and electronic packaging through hands-on experience with his father's companies, The Hopkins Company and Helitronics, Inc. His defense industry experience included developing flight test instrumentation and learning aircraft fabrication processes—experience he considers pivotal to understanding how aviation systems work from concept to completion. Throughout his career, he has specialized in creating processes where none existed, driven by the principle that effective processes are essential for both product development and safety. As a partner at Kilroy Aviation, he focuses on regulatory compliance and safety management education. His philosophy centers on continuous learning and sharing knowledge with clients to promote aircraft safety and reliability. He credits a college writing course as transformational to his career, enabling him to effectively communicate complex technical concepts and processes.
Nick Olmsted
VP Quality & ODA Administrator
Nick serves as head of the Kilroy Aviation ODA Unit and as an FAA Consultant DER, bringing over 17 years of aviation certification experience across more than 200 Type Certification projects. His portfolio spans major manufacturers including Boeing, Airbus, Bell, Gulfstream, and Sikorsky, working on both the applicant side and as an FAA designee. His career highlights include managing simultaneous widebody VIP interior projects for A340 and Boeing 777 aircraft, establishing two Part 145 Repair Stations, and achieving Parts Manufacture Authority in multiple locations. As an FAA Designated Engineering Representative since 2007, he holds delegations in aircraft and rotorcraft electrical systems and management across categories 23, 25, 27, and 29. Nick's leadership experience includes roles as Program Manager, Chief Engineer, and VP of Engineering and Certification. He served as Lead ODA Administrator for PATS Aircraft Systems/ALOFT AeroArchitects for five years and spent eight years with BaySys Technologies before co-founding Kilroy Aviation. A retired 20-year US Naval Officer, Nick specialized in combat weapon systems including AEGIS, Tomahawk, and Standard missiles. He currently serves as Industry Co-Chair of the FAA & Industry CPG implementation team, working with ACO & MIDO Managers and industry representatives to improve aviation certification practices.
