VERO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 24, 2010 — Piper Aircraft, Inc., has named successful aircraft sales executive Drew McEwen as Director of Sales, Americas. McEwen joins Piper after a 28-year career at Hawker Beechcraft Corp. and leads Piper’s Regional Office in Vero Beach, working with dealers and agents throughout the Americas.

“Drew’s mission is to maximize long-term Piper sales and help dealers and the dealer network achieve success,” said Piper Executive Vice President Randy Groom. “He will work to ensure that Piper has strong representation throughout the Americas and will recruit dealers and agents in strategic areas.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected New Mexico State University (NMSU), Las Cruces, NM, to lead a new Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation. The center is a partnership of academia, industry, and government, developed for the purpose of creating a world-class consortium that will address current and future challenges for commercial space transportation.

Washington, D.C., August 18, 2010 - Brian Delauter, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) General Manager, General Aviation, is confirmed to speak Monday, September 13 during the 2010 NASAO Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Wichita, Kansas. 
 
Delauter (pictured at right) has an extensive general aviation background and knowledge of all aspects of general aviation including corporate and recreational aircraft operations, airports, airspace and airmen issues. He uses his extensive general aviation experience in government and private industry to lead TSA's strategy to enhance security within the general aviation sector while reducing the risk of the misuse of General Aviation assets by developing identification capabilities including positive pilot and aircraft identification.
 
"We are delighted Brian Delauter is returning to address our conference this year," said NASAO President and CEO Henry Ogrodzinski. "The GA pilot perspective Brian brings to his role at TSA has been refreshing and welcomed. We look forward to hearing about the latest news on security issues facing the general aviation community."

  Reflects on NASAO
 

Jack W. Ferns, Director of Aeronautics, Rail and Transit for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, will be leaving his post this week after 16 years with the state. Though his term ends on August 20, Ferns said he has the opportunity to stay until his position is filled with a qualified applicant with the appropriate knowledge, skills and a focus on transit.

Ferns, a former Chair of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, (NASAO), has been very active promoting aviation not only in his state but on a regional and national level as well. According to Henry Ogrodzinski, President of NASAO, Ferns has served on many of the association's committees, served as a Regional Director and was an association officer for four years.

"I’m very fortunate to live in a small state that offers so much in aviation," said Ferns. "The best thing about aviation in New Hampshire is the diversity of people, pilots, and airports." Every year, as an example, Ferns travels around the state with a member of the Governor’s Executive Council. "We fly to 12 airports in one day (half of NH airports)," said Ferns. "We meet with pilots, airport managers, airport

Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., Aug. 17, 2010 – For the 11th year in a row, the annual “America’s Best Colleges” guide published by U.S. News Media Group has ranked Embry-Riddle’s aerospace engineering program #1 in the nation and has also named Embry-Riddle to the top tier of universities granting mainly bachelor’s and master’s degrees.