Night IFR Certain LAA types can be cleared for flight at night and/or under IMC (instrument meteorlogical conditions) - commonly referred to as 'Night/IFR' for convenience. The special Night/IFR requirements and process are detailed in technical leaflets TL 2.27 and 2.28, linked below, which are additional to the standard requirements applicable to any LAA aircraft. The special requirements involve the aircraft being of a type that demonstrates flight handling broadly in accordance with CS-23 subpart B (some types, including the RV-6 and RV-7, have a restricted aft cg limit to meet the pitch stability requirements), and each individual example must have a special IFR flight test to confirm it matches the first one tested. For a night clearance, the aircraft must also undergo a night test to check its lighting and general suitability for night flight. The aircraft must have accumulated enough flying hours in VFR to prove its reliability, and it must have an engine of a type accepted as being likely to be as reliable as a certified engine (for example we accept ‘clone’ Lycomings even though not certified). The propeller must be rain-proof, i.e. have hardened leading edges, and the aircraft must have an effective carb ice prevention system. The aircraft’s panel must have at least two independent attitude indicators, with either separate power sources or back-up internal power. If two EFIS are used to provide attitude information, with no other attitude instrument, then the two EFIS must be of different manufacturers so as to avoid the risk of simultaneous failures. There must be pitot heat, an alternative static and an OAT gauge. If the essential systems are relying on electrical power, the electrics must be designed to avoid being vulnerable to any single component failure, and if there is a single alternator there must be enough battery capacity to keep the essential systems running for an adequate time (at least 30 mins) before the battery goes flat. If two radios are fitted, they must not be both vulnerable to failure if any single component fails (e.g. must not be both fed through a single avionics master switch with no back-up power available). LAA does not specify what navigation or radio equipment is fitted, but as with a certified aircraft, the equipment fit determines what type of airspace can be used. An autopilot is not required, but certainly helps reduce pilot workload in sustained instrument flight. Non-certified equipment, including EFIS and autopilots, alternators, etc, are permitted, subject to the usual LAA checks. The aircraft has to be inspected initially and annually by an inspector with a special ‘night/IFR’ endorsement on their LAA inspector approval, and the aircraft is checked to have been built to an appropriate level of quality for a night/IFR aircraft. For example, quality of its instrument wiring, electrical power supply wiring, etc, are checked which are much more critical than in an aircraft only flying day VFR. The ASI and altimeter must be regularly calibrated, the battery must have a regular capacity check and the radios checked regularly by a qualified radio engineer. The aircraft must have an accepted pilot’s operating handbook and an acceptable maintenance schedule, and be maintained to that schedule. The application process involves not only a night/IFR inspector but also a night/IFR assessor who is one of a small band of LAA volunteers qualified to assess the design aspects of the aircraft’s systems and who compiles a technical report about the aircraft and if he is happy with it, includes a recommendation to remove the day-VFR only restriction. The report includes details of the aircraft’s systems, the special flight test reports, inspection reports, maintenance schedule and POH, a photo of the instrument panel and an electrical load analysis. This report is sent to LAA Engineering who checks through it and all being well, issues the aircraft new paperwork with the day and/or VFR restriction removed and replaced by limitations allowing IFR and/or night flight. All LAA night/IFR aircraft are restricted to not fly in the vicinity of thunderstorms and, for IFR cleared aircraft, take-off and landing in visibility less than 1500m is prohibited. The aircraft may not be operated in IMC below 500 ft agl for a precision approach, or 600 ft for a non-precision approach, or approach system limits, whichever is the greater. The pilot qualification for flying an LAA night/IFR aircraft at night or in IFR is the same as for flying a certified light aircraft at night or IFR. Aircraft types that have been successfully cleared for night/IFR flight include the RV-6, -7, -8, -9 and -10 (nosewheel and tailwheel variants – some with cg range restrictions), Europa and Cozy. Several of the modern lightweight 600 kg types have failed to comply due to low stability margins making them OK for day VFR flight but not suitable instrument platforms for night or IFR. Whilst a very few Rotax powered aircraft have been be to be cleared, most of the thirty or so LAA aircraft that have successfully transitioned are powered by Lycoming or Lycoming-clone engines. PROCESS SUMMARY LIST OF TYPES PERMIT IFR FEES NIGHT IFR INSPECTORS FAQs POH LITE TEMPLATE (PowerPoint File) NIGHT IFR PILOTS ACCEPTED INSTRUMENTS TL 2.27 - PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL & TL 2.28 - ASSESSMENT OF AIRCRAFT LAA/MOD15 APPLICATION FORM

LAS will, once again, be sponsoring our Homebuilders Tent We are pleased to announce that the LAA Rally will be again held in conjunction with Leicestershire Aero Club at Leicester Airfield on 4th to the 6th of September 2026. This year's event will celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the LAA and feature a static display of aircraft representing the LAA fleet over the years. More details about the Rally to follow soon! Are you interested in sponsoring the event or advertising in the Weekend Show Guide? OR Do you want to display your aircraft project in the Homebuilders tent? Contact Nancy Lillington at [email protected] WELCOME TO THE LAA 2026 RALLY FLY-IN ENTRANCE FEES GENERAL INFORMATION FLYING IN & BOOKING A LANDING SLOT CAMPING EXHIBITOR INFORMATION OPENING TIMES & CAR PARKING OTHER ATTRACTIONS TROPHIES & AWARDS

< Back Malcolm McBride Update 6 Feb 2026 Malcolm's funeral will take place on 20 th February at 11 am at the village church: St Mary's Church Manor Farm Lane Chesterton Bicester OX26 1UD The wake will be at: The Kitchen and Bar Whitelands Farm Sports Ground Whitelands Way Bicester OX26 1AJ The LAA are sad to announce the death of former LAA Airworthiness Engineer Malcolm McBride, who passed away suddenly on Saturday after suffering a heart attack. Malcolm, who worked for the LAA between 2007 and 2021 was, during that time, responsible for approving many thousands of Permit revalidations on behalf of LAA members and helping members with cheerful advice about all aspects of looking after their aircraft and negotiating the regulations. Malcolm's regular 'Safety Spot' engineering articles in the LAA magazines were always amusing as well as informative, and attracted a significant following amongst LAA members. He was also an LAA Inspector for over 35 years. Our condolences to Malcolm's wife, Janice, and other members of his family. Funeral details to follow. Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert for Rotax 900 series engines regarding the oil spray nozzle 18 Dec 2024 Inspection and/or Replacement of Oil Spray Nozzle On 16.12.24, Rotax issued a new MANDATORY Service Bulletin SB 912 i-016/SB 915 i-016 / SB 916 i-006 which calls 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. 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 .pdf Download PDF • 205KB Next Previous

< Back Employment Opportunity - Advertising, Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager 30 Nov 2023 The LAA are hiring! Advertising Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager The Light Aircraft Association supports its members build, maintain, fly and enjoy light aircraft. We have over 7000 members and look after over 4000 aircraft across the UK. We are looking someone to take control of our advertising, sales, marketing and social media. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right person to help define, implement and then deliver the strategy to transform the way the LAA communicates with its 7000-plus members. What you will do:- Work with our advertising partners to ensure they get the best ROI for their advertising spend in our magazine – Light Aviation Work with the Editor to ensure all advertising space is filled Work with the CEO ang HQ team to develop and implement a multichannel communications strategy Grow and manage the LAA’s social media presence What we offer: The chance to make a difference – We are a small team, we are all passionate about aviation and everyone counts! Develop your skills The opportunity to get flying Hybrid working Paid holidays This role would ideally suit someone with a Degree in Business/Business Management with an interest in Sales and Marketing Next Previous

< Back LAA Head Office closed on Friday 4th July 3 Jul 2025 LAA HQ will be closed on Friday 4th July 2025 due to the Silverstone Grand Prix. All staff will be working from home, so can continue to deal with your calls and emails, but will not be on site at Turweston to answer any questions directly or receive any hand-delivered documents. Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Pietenpol Air Campers 19 Jul 2024 Mandatory Technical Directive, MTD-06-2024 has been issued to introduce mandatory checks for corrosion on the wing rear struts. This follows a recent in-service finding where servere corrosion was found in a flying example of the type in the UK. The MTD must be carried out before further flight on or after 18th July 2024 on Pietenpol Air Camper aircraft fitted with the 'Jim Wills' wing rear struts. Next Previous

< Back Winner Announced: LAA 80th Anniversary Rally Poster 6 Mar 2026 The winner of the 80th Anniversary Rally Poster Competition has been selected, and we’re delighted to reveal the official design that will represent this milestone year for the Light Aircraft Association. Congratulations to Amy Whitewick, whose striking design was chosen to mark 80 years of grassroots aviation, engineering excellence and community spirit! A Design That Captures 80 Years... The judging panel selected the artwork for its strong visual impact, clear celebration of the LAA, and its versatility across print and digital formats. The design reflects both the history of the Association and the forward-looking spirit that continues to define it today. Speaking about the win, Amy Whitewick said: "I'm so excited to win the LAA Rally Poster Competition for the 80th Anniversary, 2026 - my vision for the design was to create something that reflected the colours and styles that I love from posters of the 1930s, the Golden Age of aviation. I also wanted the poster to reflect the excitement and joy of current light aviation, including the portrayal of various aircraft types throughout the 80 years and embody the party-like spirit of this year's special rally. I felt this poster gives back all the joy and kindness that fellow LAA Members, Inspectors and Engineers have given me over the years. It's really a big thank you to them, my airfield 'family', who helped me achieve my wings and continue to encourage me to grow my skills."- Amy Whitewick, G-DHYS From Poster to Rally Branding The winning artwork will now be rolled out to support the promotion of the 2026 Rally! You’ll start seeing the design appear across LAA channels in the coming weeks as we build momentum towards the Rally. Thank You to All Entrants We’d like to thank everyone who submitted entries. The quality and creativity on display made judging a difficult task and demonstrated the depth of talent within the LAA community. We look forward to seeing the winning poster proudly displayed at the 80th Anniversary Rally.Rally details and ticket information will be shared with you in the coming months. LAA 80 Poster 2026 A4 .jpg Download JPG • 1.83MB Amy Whitewick - Photo .jpg Download JPG • 350KB Next Previous

< Back Eurofox Rudder Pedal Failures - CAA Mandatory Permit Directive 12 Jan 2026 MPD-2026-002-E – Eurofox Rudder Control System - Rudder Pedal/Rudder Pedal Torque Tube - Inspection The CAA has published a Mandatory Permit Directive (MPD) concerning cracking of Eurofox rudder pedals. Please see MPD-2026-002-E below for full details, or access it HERE . MPD-2026-002-E - Rudder Control System - Rudder Pedal_Rudder Pedal Torque Tube - Inspectio .pdf Download PDF • 175KB Next Previous

< Back LAA Rally 2025 - Landing Slots now Live! 6 Aug 2025 The slot booking system is now live. Slot bookings can be booked and purchased via the Eventbrite website. The Pilot Notes for the LAA Rally at Leicester Fri 29 Aug-Sun 31 August can be found here . Next Previous

< Back Advanced LAA Rally Camping Permits - Now closed. Camping permits can be bought onsite. Camping passes, which cover the duration of your stay, are available to purchase on arrival at a cost of £65. Camping facilities, providing basic amenities, including hot showers will be available on site. There is ample ground for caravans and mobile homes. The campsite will be open from midday Thursday 28th August and close on Monday morning 1st September. Please note entry to the Rally Exhibition Site is charged separately. Prices are for the duration of your stay. On site catering and bar will be available in the Exhibition area during event opening hours and evening food, bar and entertainment will be provided by Leicestershire Aero Club in the evenings. Next Previous

< Back New Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection 3 Dec 2024 The LAA is very pleased to announce that Lucy Wootton has been appointed as the new Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection. LAA CEO Simon Tilling continues: “We have taken the opportunity to bring together the inspection and airworthiness teams under one leader. Currently Continuing Airworthiness and our nationwide team of Inspectors are interdependent functions, bringing them together allows for closer co-operation and the alignment of objectives and actions. This new, combined team has the overall objective of ensuring and maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the LAA fleet of more than 2,700 aircraft. It’s responsibilities will include: Airworthiness audits (ACAMs) Permit to Fly Revalidation Process & PFRCs Tracking, analysis, and management of airworthiness issues and identification of solutions Promulgation of continuing airworthiness Information (TADS, Alerts, TSBs, MTDs, Light Aviation Magazine, website) External Liaison (AAIB, CAA, BGA, BMAA) Inspector Induction Support Training, development, and record keeping Communication Performance management Authorisations Contribution to processes and procedures (EPM, Exposition, SPARS, TLs etc) Lucy joined the LAA in August 2022 as Chief Inspector. She has a first-class Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering, with Honours, from Loughborough University, having spent five years there, including a year’s placement at Rolls-Royce in Failure Investigation, for which she achieved a Diploma in Industrial Studies. Lucy has also been a British Gliding Association Inspector for more than 10 years, as well as an ARC Signatory. Lucy holds a PPL(A) for both single-engine piston aircraft and touring motor gliders, with a night rating, instrument rating(restricted) and sailplane towing rating. Prior to joining the LAA, Lucy worked as an Aircraft Structural Repair Design Engineer for a major aeronautical engineering organisation. Since joining the LAA as Chief Inspector, Lucy has been instrumental in the continuing development of the LAA Inspectorate, who are recognised for their knowledge and skills and professionalism across the aviation industry." Next Previous