< Back New LAA Inspector - James Coyne-Downhill 15 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome James Coyne-Downhill as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. James started flying at the age of 14 with the Air Cadets, flew solo on his 16th birthday, and earned his Private Pilot’s Licence at 18. By day, he works on Dassault Falcon 20 business jets as part of a base maintenance team, following an aircraft engineering apprenticeship at Cobham. Outside of work, he enjoys flying and maintaining Luscombe 8As. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Ed Stinton 27 Mar 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Ed Stinton as a new LAA Inspector. Ed came to an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of March. Ed has restored two crash-damaged Avid flyers and one crash-damaged MW7. He also restored a barn-find ARV Super2, including Rotax engine conversion. He has been involved with numerous RV builds, including his own Harmon Rocket (modified RV4). Ed has held CAA approvals for welding carbon steels. He is experienced with fabric, wood and composites, Wankel Rotary and Lycoming engines. Ed has worked with both two-stroke and four-stroke Rotax engines. He has worked for MidWest engines, Diamond Aircraft and numerous maintenance organisations. Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Chipmunk aircraft 24 May 2024 Mandatory Technical Directive, MTD-04-2024 has been issued by our Head of Airworthiness, Nick Stone, today to introduce mandatory recurring inspections of the flap operating cables following a recent potentially serious incident where one of the flap cables on a Chipmunk failed in flight, leading to an asymmetric flap configuration. The MTD allows a 5 flying hour period of grace before the inspection must be carried out and is being emailed today to all owners of LAA Chipmunks and all LAA Inspectors approved to inspect Chipmunks. Next Previous

< Back The importance of airfield location 12 Feb 2024 The first results of a survey conducted by the new Strategic Airfield Network (SAN) indicate that location is the number one reason airfields consider themselves important. For more information, head to the Flyer article below: https://flyer.co.uk/location-location-location-airfields-are-important/ Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert issued for Lycoming Engines 28 Nov 2024 The LAA has issued Alert A-02-2024 (link below) to highlight the recent Lycoming Airworthiness Directive regarding connecting rod bushings and connecting rod assemblies. The FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for models of Lycoming engines that have an affected part installed and are assembled within the ship date range, as specified in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this Airworthiness Directive (AD 2024-21-02). The AD comes into effect on 5th December 2024. This AD was prompted by several reports of connecting rod failures which resulted in uncontained engine failure and in-flight shutdowns. The AD requires repetitive oil inspections for bronze metal particulates at each oil change, and if found, additional inspections of the connecting rod bushings for damage, proper fit, movement, and wear, and replacement if necessary. The first oil inspection must take at the next oil change or within 4 months after the AD becomes effective i.e. 5th April 2025, whichever occurs first. As terminating action to the connecting rod bushing inspections, this AD requires replacement of the connecting rod bushings with parts eligible for installation. LAA A-02-2024 - Lycoming Connecting Rod Assemblies .pdf Download PDF • 203KB Next Previous

LAA are proud to announce our Rally 2025 sponsors The 2025 LAA Rally will take place at Leicester Airfield over the three days Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August. We are excited to be working with Leicestershire Aero Club to host the event at Leicester Airfield. The weekend will focus on the fly-in and social elements of our annual event; provide the opportunity to see a wide range of exhibitors, hear from industry experts in our Speakers Corner programme of talks, get hands-on skills experience in the Homebuilders marquee; meet our LAA team, purchase LAA merchandise and relax in the Struts & Clubs stand. We are reverting to our traditional exhibition layout which provides for a series of marquees housing all the LAA activities; indoor exhibitor space and our homebuilders exhibits. Outside provides the space for larger displays and we will look forward to showcasing manufacturers and distributors of a wide range of the latest aircraft types from across the LAA fleet. The Speakers Corner marquee, will host a varied programme of talks throughout the weekend, including an open Q&A session each day with CEO, Simon Tilling. Members will have free access to the aircraft park, with access available at an additional charge to non-members enabling everyone to get up close to inspect the wide range of aircraft attending the Rally. The exhibition site will host a wide selection of food choices, a full bar and ice cream van during the daytime whilst evening entertainment, food and bar will be provided by Leicestershire Aero Club. There will be free car parking and on site campsite. We look forward to seeing you at Leicester! Introduction

Weight & Balance The subject of Weight and Balance covers at least four distinct procedures: weighing an aircraft, calculating its empty weight and centre of gravity (CG), establishing the worst forward and aft CG loading cases according to an appropriate design code and calculating weights and centres of gravity for an actual flight. This section includes guidance notes on each of these aspects, forms and worked examples (imperial or metric) for recording and calculating empty weight and CG, as well as worst forward and aft CG cases and an Excel based spreadsheet that makes the weight and CG calculations for you. The table on the spreadsheet is set out in the same layout as the Loading Examples tables. This spreadsheet can, of course, also be used for carrying out calculations for an actual flight. Simply input the actual weights of the items to be loaded rather than the standard occupant or maximum fuel and baggage weights. Remember, it is important to check that the CG remains within limits with no usable fuel as well as with the loaded fuel in the tanks, even though it will not be your intention of running the tank dry. The calculator generates two sets of weight and CG values for this purpose. Weight & Balance arrangements for gyroplanes are different to those of aeroplanes and a special type of report is used, unless the manufacturers concerned provides their own special schedule in which case this should be used instead. Before accessing the documents below, please ensure you have read Technical Leaflet 3.16 - Weight and Balance Guidance Notes . Technical Leaflet 3.16 Other useful documentation is as follows: Weight & Balance Forms Weight and Balance Example Forms Weight and Balance Excel Calculators

< Back CAA Licencing Update 11 Jun 2025 ** The final legislation has not yet come into force and we’ll provide more comprehensive details when we have confirmation of the actual legislation (hopefully late July) that has gone to Parliament ** Link to document can be found below: CAA Licencing update .pdf Download PDF • 459KB 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

< Back LAA AGM 2025 Full article on the AGM and elected directors will be in the November issue of Light Aviation due out next week. Elected Directors : Alan Crutcher, Alistair Seymour, Clive Shipley, Paul Kirkham, David Millin, Peter Pengilly Next Previous

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 Alert A-05-2025 - Alpi Pioneer 300 - Inspection of Undercarriage Components for Cracking and Corrosion 12 Jun 2025 LAA Alert A-05-2025 - Alpi Pioneer 300 - Inspection of Undercarriage Components for Cracking and Corrosion LAA Alert A-05-2025 has been published on the LAA website (and is also attached), highlighting Alpi Pioneer 300 and 300 Hawk aircraft that have suffered different malfunctions and failures of various components that make up the undercarriage. This Alert strongly recommends a close inspection of the undercarriage at 25-hour intervals for corrosion and cracking, as well as a retraction check, to verify that the retraction system components remained correctly adjusted, to avoid undercarriage collapse due to the mechanism not being adequately over-centre when extended. A-05-2025 - Alpi Pioneer 300 Landing Gear Corrosion .pdf Download PDF • 204KB Next Previous