< Back Inspector Renewal 19 Mar 2024 It's that time of year again! LAA Inspector Authorisations lapse at the end of this month. Renewing is simple, available both on and offline. In order to renew this year, Inspectors need to carry out two simple steps, which are as follows: Complete and sign the ' Inspector Declaration, ' which was emailed to all Inspectors on 4th March, and return to LAA Engineering, either as a scanned document or in the post. Pay the Inspector Renewal Fee , which is £40 and covers administration of an Inspector Authorisation throughout the year. (For Inspectors of Factory Built Gyroplanes, there is no longer an additional fee. All Inspectors pay £40). Inspectors can pay via the LAA shop, found here , or by giving us a call with their payment card details. Alternatively, Inspectors can pay by Bank Transfer. Inspectors' continuing support is crucial and we sincerely hope that all Inspectors will renew. Next Previous

< Back MTD-01-2025 ISSUE 2 published - Zenair Tailplane Brackets 28 Aug 2025 MTD-01-2025 - 'Inspection of horizontal stabiliser (tailplane) attachment brackets and associated hardware for cracks, looseness and other forms of distress' for Zenair CH601, CH650, CH701, CH750 and variants of these four models has been upissued to Issue 2. This is in order to correct an error in the 'Effective Date' of this MTD. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. A number of cases have been found whereby the structural integrity of the horizontal stabiliser mountings on the Zenair types identified above have been compromised by one or more of the following: cracking of the attachment brackets oversize holes loose rivets distorted and chafed brackets. These problems could occur due to a number of factors including poor build quality, a build-up of tolerances in the positioning or dimensions of the brackets, improper assembly, rough treatment or in-flight vibration. Failure of a tailplane attachment could result in degraded controllability in flight or loss of control. Special inspections of this area have been recommended by Zenair since January 2017, in their document ‘Mandatory Action. Jan. 2017 – Inspection of Horizontal Stabilizer tail attachment brackets’. This Mandatory Technical Directive mandates this safety action for aircraft operating on LAA Permits to Fly. 20250828 - MTD-01-2025 - Zenair Tailplane Brackets - Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 183KB Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Jabiru 2200 engines 10 Jul 2024 Mandatory Technical Directive, MTD-05-2024 has been issued today to introduce mandatory checks on the clearance between the distributor cap and rotor arm in Jabiru 2200 engines where the cap or rotor have recently been changed (or following subsequent changes). This follows an in-service finding where differences in distributor cap design were found which lead to extreme wear in the components causing the engine to stop. The MTD must be carried out before further running of the engine on or after 10th July 2024 on Jabiru 2200 engines where the distributor cap and/or rotor arm has been changed in the last 20 engine hours, or are subsequently changed. The checks are also recommended on all other Jabiru 2200 engines. 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 New LAA Inspector - Malcolm Talbot 14 Jul 2025 We are pleased to welcome Malcolm Talbot as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Malcolm holds a BSc(Hons) with the Open University in Maths, Technology and Engineering. He has held a PPL since 2010 and been a Flight Instructor FI since 2019, (having passed the CPL theory exams),. He is currently instructing for Moray Flying Club and Highland Aviation, and recently become a ground examiner. Malcolm built and flies a Eurofox, which first flew in 2013. He thoroughly enjoyed the build process. Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures 10 Dec 2025 LAA Alert A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures LAA Engineering has issued Alert A-13-2025 to highlight the recent issues of SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures. Two SportCruisers have recently suffered nose landing gear collapses, resulting in propeller strikes and airframe damage. Inspections have revealed evidence of cracking and possible weld-related weakness. Owners and Inspectors should carry out frequent checks for cracks, corrosion, and deformation on the nose-leg, paying particular attention to weld points. If any abnormalities are detected, the aircraft must not be flown and LAA Engineering contacted. Please refer to the Alert here for full details and recommended checks. A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures .pdf Download PDF • 515KB Next Previous

< Back More new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt & Daniel Couzens 16 Jan 2024 It is time to introduce you to two new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt and Daniel Couzens, who both attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day in December, with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. Bryn is the Hangar Supervisor for Shenley Engineering at Headcorn Aerodrome. He has 20 years experience carrying out maintenance on a variety of fixed wing metal, composite and wooden airframes, supporting naturally aspirated and turbocharged Lycoming and Continental Engines, Gipsy Major and Renault 4P03 Engines. Daniel is an Aircraft Engineer based in Lincolnshire, as well as being a qualified CAA welder. The first aircraft he built was an Xair microlight. Congratulations to Bryn and Daniel! 🎊🎉 Next Previous

< Back Nick Stone appointed as the LAA's Head of Airworthiness 24 Oct 2023 The LAA is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Stone as the LAA’s Head of Airworthiness. Nick brings a vast wealth of aircraft knowledge as well as a real world understanding of the need for good process and procedure. Having started his career in the Royal Air Force, Nick went on to work in the aerospace industry working in the UK with British Aerospace and Slingsby Aviation at various sites and projects, as an inspector, methods engineer and quality engineer. Nick then moved to the United States at Eastern Airlines in Miami Florida, Learjet in Wichita Kansas and Chihuahua Mexico as inspection/Quality representative of Shorts Aerospace (Bombardier Aerospace). Following a downturn in the British Aerospace industry he then took an opportunity to move into the nuclear industry working in both reprocessing and power generation. Throughout Nick's working life the one constant has been a passion for aviation. Having started as a volunteer at a local aircraft museum at 14, Nick started flying at the age of 16 in gliders and has a private pilot’s licence PPL(A). Prior to becoming an LAA inspector Nick spent many years building, rebuilding, and restoring vintage aircraft, the more unusual the better. “As an LAA inspector I understand the need to move forward and change and adapt to an ever changing but exciting world. Having run my own aircraft restoration company for the last seven years I always felt it is important to understand your customers”. LAA CEO Simon Tilling said, “Nick is a great addition to the LAA staff. I and the rest of the team are looking forward to working with him in the near future” 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 Francis Donaldson is awarded the Honourable Company of Air Pilots Sword of Honour 22 Sept 2023 This year’s Sword of Honour – which recognises an outstanding contribution to General Aviation – goes to Francis Donaldson. For more than 30 years, as Chief Engineer of the then Popular Flying Association and then Light Aircraft Association, Donaldson has recommended the issuing of permits to fly for more than 3,000 aircraft and overseen the engineering and handling reviews of around 200 different types. He stood down from his role at the beginning of 2022 but has remained involved as a consultant. Few people have been more influential to the progress and development of light aircraft in the past three decades, with an encyclopedic knowledge backed by real world engineering and flight testing expertise. Press release - Air Pilots Trophies and Awards 2023 (2) .pdf Download PDF • 167KB . Next Previous

Hirth 2 Stroke Covering Letter to Owners Fuel System Inspection Checklist

< Back Alert A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking 25 Jul 2025 LAA Alert A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking A cracked aileron servo-tab pushrod was found on a UK Glastar aircraft. The pushrod consists of a thin-walled aluminium tube with an adjustable clevis at one end, and a fixed clevis at the other. The crack was at the adjustable end of the pushrod, and extended from the end of the aluminium tube to the hole approximately 1 inch from the end. A cracked aileron servo-tab pushrod must be considered unairworthy, and replaced before further flight. A-07-2024 can be found HERE and is also attached. A-07-2025 - Glastar Aileron Servo-Tab Pushrod Cracking .pdf Download PDF • 562KB Next Previous