Trine Aerospace & Defense has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration that enables it to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul services on rotor-wing aircraft. The helicopter certification comes on the heels of Trine receiving FAA Part 145 approval as a certified repair station in April.

Based at the Colorado Springs (KCOS) airport, the company offers engineering, manufacturing, and aircraft modification on general aviation, commercial, and special mission aircraft. It also specializes in avionics installation and repair. In January the company opened a 30,000 square foot commercial modification facility at the Colorado Springs (KCOS) airport and has four helicopter mechanics, a helicopter inspector and a helicopter test pilot.

"The certification along with the opening of our new facility now allows us to expand our rotor-wing product offering to both our non-government and government customer base, particularly in the form of avionics and electrical systems modification," said president and CEO, Britt Ham. "We are able to utilize our own in-house engineers, technicians and FAA-DERs (Designated Engineering Representatives) to design, install, and certify a wide variety of aircraft modifications."

A Trine Aerospace & Defense mechanic performs a post flight engine inspection of an Airbus Gazelle SA341F2 helicopter at the company's 30,000 square foot commercial modification facility at Colorado Springs (KCOS) Airport.

Trine provides airframe and engine maintenance, repair, overhaul, avionics, and custom tailored maintenance solutions for all types of helicopters in complex mission configurations such as air medical completions, law enforcement, offshore and corporate helicopters. Specific helicopter services include removal, rebalancing and re-installation of blades; removal and re-installation of engines and transmissions; engine accessories, avionics, and airframe repairs. The company provides maintenance and repair for Bell, Airbus Helicopters, and McDonnell Douglas helicopter airframes and is an authorized dealer for Garmin International, Genesys Aerosystems, and Technisonic Communications.

The company is currently working on several helicopter maintenance and repair projects. For a local charter company Trine is installing tactical radios in Bell 429 helicopters used to communicate with the U.S. Forest Service. A complete avionics, engine, and blade overhaul is also underway on a Flight for Life Airbus Helicopter Bo 105 that will return to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is the second of three helicopters from San Juan that Trine is working on. A third will follow this fall.