< Back New LAA Inspector - Mike Maddams 20 Mar 2026 We are pleased to welcome Mike Maddams as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Mike is a wood and fabric specialist with extensive experience on a wide range of LAA aircraft types. He owns and operates a 1942 Auster LB369 and is Director of Aero & Auto Ltd, Vintage Restorations. Next Previous

< Back Engineering Employment Opportunity 13 Jul 2023 Want to take the next step in your Aviation Engineering career? Then join the Light Aircraft Association Engineering Team and help keep the UK’s largest fleet of vintage and light sport aircraft flying! We have vacancies for Airworthiness Engineers at all levels to be part of the LAA team based at Turweston. The successful applicants will be responsible for all aspects of continued airworthiness for the LAA-administered fleet of aircraft. Main duties will include the analysis of data from many sources to identify and communicate opportunities to improve the airworthiness of our fleet of nearly 3,000 aircraft. This will include working with manufacturers, the Air Accident Investigation Branch, LAA Inspectors and engineers and the LAA design team, as well as providing technical assistance to LAA members, writing technical articles for our own Light Aviation magazine, and assisting with Permit to Fly revalidations. The ideal applicants will demonstrate experience in all aspects of general aviation airworthiness, including a knowledge of airframes, engines and aircraft systems. A knowledge of vintage aircraft, as well as newer LAA types and modern avionics, would be advantageous. Inspired? Then we’re keen to create exciting career paths for the right individuals and will provide development, training and certification accordingly. Candidates should be IT competent with Microsoft Office, have a friendly personality and the ability to work within a small team and also independently. Excellent communication skills are required and attention to detail is essential. These are full-time posts, mainly based at LAA HQ but with potential for hybrid/remote working and site visits. Salary dependent on experience. Send your CV to [email protected] , and fly high with LAA. Next Previous

An Introduction to Permit Aircraft Avionics Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Duration Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. < Back About the Course This course is an introduction to permit aircraft avionics. The course starts with explaining the LAA rules and guidance regarding avionics fit in your aircraft, discusses how to plan and install your avionics including panel design, explains how modern avionics connect with each other and the various protocols (electronic languages) that they commonly use. The course takes you through selection of your avionics including EFIS, ELTs and PLBs, Autopilots, Antennas, Transponders, Radios and Audio Panels including some of the more common options available, including redundancy options where applicabl The course also includes practical demonstration and practice in wiring the most commonly used avionics connectors, the ubiquitous D Sub connector, and provides advice on minimising interference and best practice for shielding connections. The course finishes with an introduction to avionics considerations for Permit Aircraft planning to apply for permission to fly in IMC or at night. Your Instructor Mark Castle-Smith Dates Sunday 19 April 2026 Times Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. Duration One day course Venue LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome, NN13 5YD Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Booking Pls call the LAA on 01280 846 786 to enquire/book or email [email protected] . *Please note that payment is required when booking, to confirm your place. NO place will be held without confirmed payment* **Please note that your booking payment is non-refundable unless we can fill your place timeously or there are exceptional circumstances**

What does the Pilot Coaching Scheme offer? Licence Revalidation & Renewals LAA Coaches can provide the “one hour with an Instructor ” flight at any time in the second year of your licence revalidation period, and then sign the revalidation if you have already flown the required hours. They all hold UK 'R' examiner privileges, so can also revalidate ratings on UK PPLs and NPPLs once all the requirements have been completed, even if they have not flown with you. All Coaches are allowed to do Renewal Training under the LAA DTO to assist pilots to prepare for their General Skills Test to get their lapsed licence back. Differences Training "Differences Training" requires the acquisition of additional knowledge and training on any appropriate device, or on an aircraft. It requires both ground and flight training and must be endorsed as having been completed by a suitably qualified Flight Instructor or Class Rating Instructor. Features which, when first experienced, require differences training are: Turbo-charged or Super-charged engines Variable pitch and constant speed propellers Tail wheel undercarriage Retractable undercarriage Cabin Pressurisation EFIS Single power lever control (SPLC) Microlights Additionally, for the UK National Private Pilot's Licence (NPPL) SSEA class rating, differences training is required for aircraft with a cruise speed in excess of 140 knots indicated airspeed. Familiarisation Training Before flying any type or variant of aircraft which you’ve not flown before, within the Single-Engine Piston (SEP) class, you must complete "Familiarisation Training". This is the correct modern terminology for what would previously be described as being "Checked Out" on a new type. "Familiarisation Training" requires the acquisition of additional knowledge by one of the following means: Self-study of appropriate material about the aircraft such as the Pilot Operating Handbook, Pilot’s notes, etc Training with a suitably qualified instructor A verbal brief from a pilot already familiar with the type , particularly in the case of a single seat aircraft, With multi seat aircraft, while it may be helpful to fly with another pilot already familiar with the type, pilots should note that only qualified instructors are authorised to provide training, including familiarisation training and this could lead to difficulties if an accident were to occur that was supervised by any pilot other than a qualified instructor. In addition, when first transitioning to flying types or variants of aircraft which include various specific more demanding or unusual features, that he or she has not previously experienced as pilot in command, a pilot must also have differences training with a qualified instructor to teach them to safely deal with the feature or features concerned. Whilst differences training with an instructor is mandatory, we also recommend you include ground and flight training with an instructor as part of your familiarisation training. Type Conversion If you're thinking of buying an aircraft, where do you go for a type conversion? The PCS has coaches who are experienced on a variety of modern and vintage types. Your coach will take you through your conversion until you are competent on type. Licence Migration The PCS can assist you to upgrade your licence to a different type and also add additional ratings e.g. NPPL(M) to NPPL(SSEA) etc. Miscellaneous Although we do offer specific courses, our coaches are available to fly with you for any flying training you may need in your aircraft. This can include revision of, for example: Practice Forced Landings; Circuits; Stalling; Navigation; R/T and more. Whilst we do not, at present, offer ab initio training, a number of our coaches are also fully qualified Flying Instructors and so may be able to assist with any training issues you may have.

< Back New LAA Inspector - Craig Ransome 16 Mar 2026 We are pleased to welcome Craig Ransome as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Craig is an apprentice-trained B1 Licensed Aircraft Engineer who began his career as a Production Fitter with British Aerospace, working on the assembly of military aircraft. He later moved into the commercial aviation sector, gaining experience with several airlines and developing a broad range of maintenance skills. He achieved B1.1 (turbine aeroplanes) and later B1.2 (piston aeroplanes) licences, demonstrating proven capability in aircraft maintenance, fault diagnosis, and airworthiness certification. Next Previous

< Back Alert 05-2024 - Rotax Oil Spray Nozzles - upissued to Issue 2 24 Jul 2025 LAA Alert 05-2024 - Inspection and/or Replacement of Oil Spray Nozzle in some Rotax 900 series engines - upissued to Issue 2 On 16.12.24, Rotax issued a MANDATORY Service Bulletins SB 912 i-016/SB 915 i-016 / SB 916 i-006 and SB-912 i-016iS / SB-915 i-016iS / SB-916 i-006iS which call for urgent action for engines of specified models within certain serial number ranges, if the engine has run for less than 200 hours from new, or engines which have been fitted with specific overhaul kits supplied between 01.01.22 and 31.10.24 inclusive. Therefore, LAA Alert A-05-2024 was issued on 17th December 2024 regarding this. Subsequently, a revision to the Rotax Service Bulletins was issued on 20.12.24, entitled MANDATORY Alert Service Bulletins ASB 912 i-016 R1/ASB 915 i-016 R1 / ASB 916 i-006 R1 and ASB-912 i-016iS R1 / ASB-915 i-016iS R1 and ASB-916 i 006iS R1. Therefore, on 23rd July 2025, LAA Alert A-05-2024 was upissued to Issue 2, which now supersedes Issue 1. A-05-2024 Issue 2 can be found HERE and is also found below. The bulletin concerns problems with a possible full or partial blockage of the oil spray nozzle due to an excessive application of Loctite at the manufacturing stage, when assembling the sprag clutch housing. This can lead to inadequate cooling of the stator assembly, potentially causing loss of electrical power to the engine’s ECU. A-05-2024 Rotax Engine Oil Spray Nozzle Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 232KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-04-2025 Issue 3 - Rans Control Linkage Rod End Connector Safety Washers 4 Dec 2025 MTD-04-2025 upissued to Issue 3 to amend the specification of the metal washers that must used to replace plastic washers. MTD-04-2025 Issue 3 is published in order to amend the specification of the metal washers that must be used to replace plastic washers. Therefore, MTD-04-2025 Issue 3 supersedes Issue 1 and 2. Issue 1 and 2 of this MTD are now cancelled. Please refer to the attached MTD document for full details and compliance instructions, which can also be found on the LAA website HERE . MTD-04-2025 - Rans Rod End Washers - Issue 3 .pdf Download PDF • 130KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-06-2025 published - Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Mod Failure 16 Dec 2025 Ref: LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-06-2025 – Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Clamp Mod A recent inspection of a Europa fitted with the tailplane torque tube clamp modification, LAA MOD 10623, revealed both halves of the clamp had broken and fallen apart. These clamps are intended to prevent relative movement between the tailplane torque tube, the tailplane drive plates and the central drive horn, on which the mass balance arm is mounted. Failure of these clamps could allow free play to develop, potentially leading to taper pin hole damage, tailplane flutter, or jamming of the pitch control mechanism. An inspection must be carried out within the next 5 flying hours to determine whether MOD 10623 is fitted. If MOD 10623 clamps are fitted, making use of a light source and mirror as necessary, inspect the alloy clamp blocks for any signs of cracking (in particular along the sharp corner between the bolt flanges and main body), for any signs of looseness or relative movement between the parts and for any other abnormalities. If any of these are detected, the aircraft must not be flown and LAA Engineering must be contacted. This must be repeated at intervals not exceeding 25 flight-hours or the next Permit revalidation inspection, whichever occurs first, for as long as MOD 10623 remains fitted. Please refer to the below Mandatory Technical Directive for full details, compliance times, and certification requirements. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. MTD-06-2025 - Europa Tailplane Torque Tube Mod Failure .pdf Download PDF • 259KB Next Previous

< Back International Women in Engineering Day 23 Jun 2023 To mark this year’s International Women in Engineering Day, the UK Civil Aviation Authority had a chat with Lucy Wootton, our Chief Inspector. Simon Tilling, our CEO said: “The LAA are really proud of Lucy and the work she is doing to improve the service we offer to our members. We would be very keen to hear from more women who want to consider a career in light aviation” Learn more about how Lucy’s career has developed to encompass gliding, powered flying and aeronautical engineering. Next Previous

LAA Clubs & Struts FIND MY LOCAL CLUB/STRUT Local Clubs, or Struts, as many of them are called, look forward to welcoming you along as a friend and fellow LAA member. They are an excellent source of advice and help, whether building, buying, training or simply wanting to be involved in the local aviation scene. The Clubs and Struts also arrange a number of flying and social events throughout the year, and most hold monthly meetings. LAA TYPE CL UBS You can also find details of LAA-Type clubs by clicking the icon below. These clubs are associated to the LAA and are dedicated to a specific aircraft manufacturer or model. They can offer social activities and technical support for owners or those interested in a particular type.

< Back Engineering updates in August and September 1 Oct 2024 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during August and September. Standard modifications: Europa SM12871 cockpit fresh air rotary ventilators issue 2 Propeller type lists PTL-1 : Aeronca 7-series Kitfox mk1-mk3 Next Previous

< Back LAA 'Grass Roots Fly-In' returns 23 Apr 2023 The LAA is returning to the green grass of Popham Aerodrome in Hampshire for a repeat of its “Grass Roots Fly In” from 18th to 20th August 2023. The Fly-In will again on one hand take the Associate back to its traditional roots, while continuing to offer the first chance to see some of the latest aircraft and products in the recreational aviation market. What was particularly notable about the 2022 Popham event was its sociality. LAA members and exhibitors alike commented on its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with post-event comments such as “It’s a great reunion as well as a fly-in–cum trade show” and “super friendly, the event always had a good vibe”. A joint venture with Popham Aerodrome, the LAA Grass Roots Fly In will develop its strengths as a social event bringing flyers from around the UK and Europe to meet fellow enthusiasts. The grass runways at Popham and the airfield’s famed rural ambience will mean that the event will focus on the fly-in and social element as much as on a large exhibition campus. The earlier mid-August date will also mean longer evenings, allowing more scope for flyers from further afield and hopefully, milder conditions for those who choose to ‘camp under the wing’. Said LAA CEO designate Simon Tilling: “The LAA Grass Roots Fly In was a great success last year, with over 3,000 visitors, more than 30 exhibitors and a total of 350 visiting aircraft through the weekend. It is a different event to the past, larger scale LAA Rallies and we’re working on plans for the continuation of a larger scale LAA event in the future. For this year, we’re looking forward to another great, social and fun, LAA fly in”. Next Previous