< Back New LAA Course dates released 6 Oct 2023 Dates have now been published for upcoming LAA Courses for the rest of this year. To find out about specific courses and their dates, click here . Please note, the next 'Caring for your Gipsy Major' course is on the 11th November, not 7th November, as published in the latest edition of Light Aviation magazine. Next Previous

< Back Rally Entrance Tickets, Airside Passes and Camping Permits on Sale!! 18 Jul 2025 Entry Tickets and Airside Passes now on sale via the LAA Shop . Landing slots will be available soon. We have a special offer for non members - £50 for all 3 days including Airside. Available for purchase until 31st July 2025 Next Previous

Light Aviation Magazine 2011 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2011 January 2011 April 2011 Juky 2011 October 2011 February 2011 May 2011 August 2011 November 2011 March 2011 June 2011 September 2011 December 2011

< Back Engineering updates in January 5 Feb 2025 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during January. Continuing airworthiness information : Mandatory Technical Directive 01-2025 - Zenair tailplane brackets TADS : Glasair Jabiru engine Pietenpol Aircamper Scottish Aviation Bulldog Zenair CH 750 Cruzer Miscellaneous: Links to the relevant Technical Leaflets and forms added to the Night/IFR section Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Sam McMellon 22 Oct 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Sam McMellon as a new LAA Inspector for Factory Built Gyroplanes. Sam attended an Assessment Day at LAA HQ with our Chief Inspector earlier this month. Well done Sam! 🎉 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 Two new LAA Inspectors appointed 28 Sept 2023 Congratulations to our latest LAA Inspectors, Luke McMillan and Gareth Rutt. Luke and Gareth both came to LAA HQ at Turweston last Thursday for 'Induction, Examination and Interview Day' with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. We wish Luke and Gareth well as they start this exciting new chapter! Next Previous

< Back Spaces left on the 'Caring for your Gypsy Major Course' 26 Sept 2023 We have a few remaining spaces on the following LAA workshop: Caring for your Gipsy Major - Basic Course Date: Tuesday 3 October 2023 Time: 9.45am - 5.00pm Cost: £120 for members/£140 for non-members Booking deadline: Thursday 28 September Please click here to send an email if you are interested or call the office on 01280 846786. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Andrew Williams 31 Mar 2025 We are pleased to welcome Andrew Williams as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Andrew has been involved with aircraft maintenance for approximately 36 years. Types he has worked on include Rolls-Royce Dart and Pratt & Whitney PT6-powered passenger and freighter aircraft, followed by working on short-to-medium range jet aircraft. For the last 10 years, Andrew has been involved with general aviation single and twin-engined aircraft, carrying out maintenance and certification. He holds a CAA approval to perform Airworthiness Reviews in order to issue Airworthiness Review Certificates. His qualifications include: CAA Part 66 Licence, inc. Full Group 3 and a BCAR Sec L Licence. In the LAA ‘world,’ Andrew has a share in a Jodel 1050. Congratulations Andrew. Welcome to the team! Next Previous

< 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

< Back Engineering updates in October and November 6 Dec 2024 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during October and November. Alerts : Alert A-01-2024 Eurostar trim system Alert A-02-2024 Lycoming connecting rod bushings TADS : Europa Eurostar Sling 2 Next Previous

LAA are proud to announce our Rally 2025 sponsors Trophies & Awards A number of prestigious Trophies and Awards are judged at the Rally, recognising the many superbly built and restored aircraft that attend. If you would like to enter your aircraft for judging you can do so on arrival. The judging team will be co-located with booking-in. You can, however, download and complete the entry form beforehand. The list of the awards for 2025 can be found here . Complete list of award can be found here . Judging guidelines can be found here . Factory built aircraft less than 35 years old are not eligible. The judging team will ensure you are in all competitions for which you are eligible. The judges sometimes have difficulty finding an aircraft. Owners are therefore urged to download the free`What3Words’ app and use it to show their aircraft’s location when registering. All pilots who wish their aircraft to be judged are asked to display to the marshallers the large J found here . They will then direct you, if possible, to a convenient parking space. Please leave the 'J' visible in the windscreen to help the judges find your aircraft. Judging takes place from 13:30 to 17:00 on the Saturday; therefore, all entries must be received by 13:00 on Saturday.