Winners In 44th Annual Program To Be Honored At AirVenture

The Experimental Aircraft Association tells ANN the General Aviation Awards Committee has named the recipients of the 2007 National General Aviation Awards in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and safety. The four individuals will receive their awards from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey during a special presentation program at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. This is the 44th year of the national GA awards program.

This year’s recipients are:

• Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year: Michael Gaffney, NAFI 19074, of Lake Saint Louis, MO
• Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year: Paul New, EAA 656705, of Jackson, TN
• Avionics Technician of the Year: Jerry Luttrull of Riverside, CA
• FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year: Cheryl De Filippo, EAA 603049, of Deltona, FL.

Co-sponsored by the FAA and several GA organizations, the award selection process begins with nominations by the local FAA Safety Team managers at Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) and then proceeds to the eight regional FAA offices. Panels of aviation professionals from within those four fields then select national winners from the pool of regional winners.

"These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety," said JoAnn Hill, selection committee chairperson. "The awards program sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive the recognition they so richly deserve before their peers in Oshkosh."

The presentation program is scheduled for Wednesday evening, July 25, at Theater in the Woods.

FMI: www.eaa.org, www.faa.gov