We're sending Friday's AVwebAudio e-mail a little early this week, just to keep readers up-to-date on the search for adventurer pilot Steve Fossett. As always, thanks for reading, listening to, and supporting AVweb.

THE SEARCH FOR STEVE FOSSETT CONTINUES ...
It's one of the most rugged and desolate parts of the world, and it's also one of the least populated, so the challenges of searching the mountains of western Nevada for Steve Fossett's tiny blue and white airplane are monumental. But there is still strong hope that Fossett will be found alive as the Civil Air Patrol, police, and even the federal government's satellite surveillance agencies throw everything they have at a search area that has grown to 10,000 square miles. As the search entered its fourth day, AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol Major Cynthia Ryan, who's in charge of the search.

Click here to listen. (7.3 MB, 7:57)

SAYING GOODBYE TO BILL PIPER JR.
Aviation lost an icon last week when Bill Piper Jr. died at the age of 96 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Piper worked alongside his brothers Tony and Pug, under the guidance of founder Bill Piper Sr. to create not just a company, but help develop the entire general aviation industry. His nephew John was close to Bill Jr. and spoke to AVweb's Russ Niles about his uncle's accomplishments and on what it was like to grow up in the first family of general aviation.

Click here to listen. (10.5 MB, 11:33)

FORMER TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JIM BURNLEY ON THE BENEFITS OF A PRIVATIZED FAA
If you're flying commercially this weekend, you'll likely have some time to ponder the words of Jim Burnley, the Secretary of Transportation under President Ronald Reagan. Burnley's a Washington insider who believes that corporatizing the FAA is the most efficient and effective way of achieving the technological development the agency needs to cope with airspace modernization. What he can't understand is why general aviation pilots aren't on board with that. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Burnley at his Washington office.

Click here to listen. (7.9 MB, 8:35)