< Back New LAA Inspector - Alan Caldecourt 24 Oct 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Alan Caldecourt as a new LAA Inspector. Alan attended an Assessment Day at LAA HQ last month. Alan has experience of both wood and metal airframes, in full restoration and modifications (Rollason Condor & Luscombe Silvaire). In 2008, he completed a RV7 build and recommissioned a Taylor Monoplane in 2020. His whole career has been in the Airline Maintenance Industry, starting as an Apprentice with B.O.A.C in 1973, becoming a Licenced Aircraft Engineer. After 47 years service, he retired in 2020 along with the British Airways 747 Fleet ! He is currently based at Popham Airfield, but lives in West Sussex. Well done Alan! 🎉 Next Previous

< Back Standard Modification for fresh air rotary ventilators added for Europa types 18 Oct 2023 A new Standard Modification (SM12871) has been uploaded to the website for Europa types. This covers the installation of rotary air vents in the forward cockpit to aid ventilation. Standard Modifications are used to enable other owners to install a modification on a given type, generally by following the instructions in the Standard Modification leaflet, having their inspector check and sign it off and letting LAA Engineering know that it's been installed. Further information on the Standard Modification process can be found in TL 3.06 Standard Modification leaflets can be found by following Engineering - Info Library - Engineering - Standard Modifictations. Technical leaflets can be found by following Engineering - Info Library - Engineering - Technical Leaflets. Next Previous

Engineering Fees Project Registration Kit-Built Aircraft - £360 Plans - Built Aircraft - £52 Initial Permit Issue Up to 450kg - £725 451-999kg - £828 100kg & above - £931 Permit Revalidation Up to 450kg - £241 451-999kg - £292 1000kg & above - £323 Note: For FBGs - if the last Permit revalidation was not administered by the LAA, an extra fee of £155 applies Modification & Repair Application Modification & Repair Applications (except Repeat Mods) - min £103 Hourly rate beyond 2 hour's work - £57 Repeat Modification Application - £52 Hourly-rate beyond 1 hour's work - £57 STC Modification Application - £52 Transfer from CAA CofA or CAA Permit to Fly to an LAA Permit to Fly Up to 450kg - £288 451-999kg - £330 1000kg & above - £371 Category Change Group A to Microlight - £206 Microlight to Group A - £206 Change of G-registration Fee Issue of Permit to Fly documents following G-reg change - £62 Replacement Documents (ref TL 2.12 ) Lost, stolen etc (fee is per document) - £26 Endorsement of report for replacement logbook - £26 Payment Methods ONLINE You can pay for Engineering Services via the ONLINE SHOP BY CALLING HQ 01280 846 786 with card details BY INTERNET BANKING Account No : 26225220 Sort Code : 60-30-03 Please note, for engineering fees, you MUST quote your aircraft registration. or your payment will not be credited to the correct aircraft record. If paying from abroad, SWIFT code is : NWBKGB2L IBAN code is : GB81 NWBK 6030 0326225220

Strut Governance Documents Strut Governance Documents Electronic versions of the Strut Event Management Procedures can be found below. Click each document to access it online. Updated April 2019 Member Club Regulations The Member Club Regulations describe the manner in which an LAA Member Club should form, govern its affairs and conduct its activities. Strut Event Management Procedure Procedures for Strut events (fly-ins etc..) Annex A Normal and Prohibited Club Activities Annex B Summary Insurance Certificate for Member Clubs of the LAA Annex C LAA Member Club - Event Notification Annex D LAA Club Event Risk Assessment (air side/ground activities) Annex E Event Safety Review and Operations Summary Annex F Third Party Passenger Flying at LAA Member Club Events Annex G Incident Checklist / Incident Plan Appendix 1 TPPF Pilot and Aircraft Checklist Appendix 2 Indemnity Agreement Appendix 3 Information for those Attending an LAA Member Club Flying Event Model Club Constitution A model constitution for member clubs

< 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

97 Octane Super Unleaded Since the replacement of regular E5 Mogas at the pumps by E10, for the time being at least, Mogas users have an alternative option in the form of 97 RON Super Unleaded fuels. 97 RON Super Unleaded fuel supplied by garage forecourts is NOT necessarily ethanol-free, but its ethanol content will be capped at a maximum of 5%. 97 RON E5 Super Unleaded fuel can be used under the LAA process for E5 Mogas, as before. There’s currently no legal requirement for ethanol to be present in super unleaded petrol and in fact, quite a few members have reported that their tests have shown Super Unleaded fuel to be ethanol-free in their areas. Esso reports that “Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps”. Shell, BP, Tesco and other fuel suppliers don’t commit to such detail, merely stating their fuels “may contain up to 5% ethanol”. Of course, many LAA members have been using Mogas of one sort or another for many years. For many airstrip users, the prospect of having to go to an airfield to fill up with Avgas would seem at best very off-putting, and at worst totally impractical for their style of operation. Hopefully Super Unleaded will continue to be an option using the LAA’s E5 procedure. Where 97 octane E5 super unleaded can be found that’s ethanol-free, it can be used in the broader range of LAA aircraft with engines eligible for use with E0 unleaded fuel. But it is important that Mogas users take on board the fact that unlike with aviation fuels, automotive fuel specifications generally only describe the properties of the fuel blend, in terms of octane rating and other characteristics, they don’t specify the chemical make-up of the fuel. Apart from specifying broad maxima and minima for those components that the powers-that-be wish to either encourage or discourage, the specifications leave to the fuel supplier the choice of how to blend the fuel to achieve the described properties. In some cases it’s the relatively small amounts of additives that cause compatibility issues, rather than the main components of the fuel that cause the problems – and the mix of additives may vary from one batch to the next. With Mogas of any type, what you get from the pump one week may be different to what you get the week after, or got the week before. The fact that your fuel system pump diaphragms, seals, composite tanks and so on might have been unaffected by Mogas up till now does not guarantee that they will be OK with the blend that the next tanker-load brings to your garage forecourt. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this, and the only way to mitigate this problem is by constant vigilance, and thoughtful adaption of your maintenance schedule to check for signs of problems developing before they create a safety issue – more frequent checking of filters, changing of fuel lines etc. Signs to watch out for are swelling of rubber components like diaphragms, fuel valve seals and O rings, fuel pipes hardening or developing surface cracks, fuel tank sealants wrinkling or detaching from the internal surfaces of fuel tanks. Varnishes on cork floats may go gummy, or plastic carburettor floats absorb fuel and lose buoyancy, causing a rich mixture and rough running. Watch out for discolouration of the fuel you take out as fuel samples, which may imply something dissolving somewhere in the system, and for corrosion in the bases of your carb float bowls and gascolator. Avoid letting Mogas go stale in your fuel system – drain it out before a long period of disuse. Don’t leave the tanks empty for a long period – better to fill them with Avgas which will reduce condensation, and also, particularly with plastic tanks, prevent the tank’s internals drying out which can cause problems with shrinkage, and in extreme cases, the tanks splitting open. O rings and other rubber parts are best kept submerged in fuel continuously. We’ve seen cases where composite aircraft skins have rippled apparently due to exposure to the vapours created by the break-down products in stale Mogas, after being left unattended over a single winter. Mogas is blended with the expectation that in a car it will be used within a few weeks of being supplied, so it doesn’t need to be as stable over a long period of time as an aviation fuel. If a composite or plastic fuel tank is built into your aircraft, consider carefully whether you want to run the risk of having to replace it should the tank deteriorate with Mogas exposure, with all that that implies. With an integral tank in a wet-wing Jabiru aircraft, the answer should be certainly not – but even with the embedded polyethylene fuel tank in a Europa’s fuselage, changing the fuel tank is not an operation for the faint-hearted, involving cutting out quite large parts of the fibreglass cockpit module to release the tank, and then scarfing them back again afterwards in-situ. The Europa kit was first produced in the era of four-star Mogas, a very different blend to what we find at the pumps today. Ethanol-proof rubber hoses are available. In particular SAE J30/R9 or the European equivalent DIN 7339 D3 are automotive hose standards that are widely available from auto factors, and should be used in preference to the older SAEJ30/R6 standard hose which is more permeable to fuel vapour and will more quickly harden and crack, particularly using fuel containing ethanol. The SAE spec J30/R14 is a lower pressure, more pliable version for carburettor systems. Watch out for cheap imitations – the real McCoy should come from a reputable manufacturer, be marked with the SAE number along its length and will likely cost at least £10 a metre. What can we do to help the situation ? It may be that off-the-shelf drop-in-the-tank additives can be used to mitigate some of the problems with mogas fuel, in particular, stabilisers and anti-corrosion products, just as they are routinely in the marine and race-car world. Not knowing what’s in them, we recommending steering clear of any additives that claim to boost the fuel’s octane. Definitely avoid additives that claim to actively enhance an engine’s power or fuel economy, other than just to restore proper performance by giving the carburettor jets and orifices an occasional clean-up. For most aircraft engines UL91 Avgas remains the ideal fuel, in that it is a tightly-controlled aviation-grade fuel of a guaranteed composition, blended for long-term stability and optimal volatility for aviation use. As it is in effect the familiar 100LL Avgas but supplied without its tetraethyl lead, any fuel system designed for 100LL Avgas will be unaffected by using UL91 fuel, or, if circumstances demand, by a mix of 100LL and UL91. Despite a pervasive mis-conception, UL91 fuel is NOT Mogas and suffers from none of the issues associated with Mogas use in aircraft. A list of engines suitable for use with UL91 fuel can be downloaded from the ‘operating and maintaining an LAA Aircraft’ page of the LAA’s new website. Moves are afoot to increase the number of airfields supplying UL91 fuel, with full LAA backing.

Over the years this has led to several commercially successful kitplanes (Europa, Streak Shadow, Sherwood Ranger), as well as designs that have been released for plans-building (Flitzer, Isaacs Fury, FRED) and a whole range of fascinating on-off personal aircraft – the Acro Advanced, Bonsall Mustang, Mickleburgh Sparrow to name just a few. There will always be LAA’ers keen on the ‘retro’ look, but with ever-increasing fuel costs we foresee a greater emphasis in future on aircraft exploring higher efficiency, alternative powerplants (electric?) and renewable materials. High hangarage fees mean that aircraft enthusiasts are more than ever interested in folding or de-riggable aircraft that can be kept at home. Using the information provided by clicking the links below, the LAA hopes to stimulate interest in light aircraft design, help potential designers through the process and encourage the development of high quality designs. With the decline in UK manufacturing over the recent decades, it seems more than ever important to keep alive a thread of creativity and enthusiasm for design and development. For some, the ability to bring a personal design from first concept to a flying prototype provides the ultimate source of satisfaction within the LAA scene. Designing Aircraft Since its formation in 1948, one of the stated aims of the LAA has been to encourage the designing and building of new types of light aircraft. For our own purposes, we in LAA Engineering have been producing a series of Excel spreadsheets to use as tools in the verification of calculations in the many aircraft design submissions we deal with. The spreadsheets have been designed to carry out the various calculations that are necessary during the design of light aircraft. Some of them have been written against specific paragraphs in the design code CS-VLA, whereas others, for example, cover areas related to the development of aircraft undergoing flight testing. In addition, simple spreadsheets for straightforward mathematical calculations have been written. It is for information and educational purposes that these spreadsheets are now available to LAA members on the LAA web site. Use the buttons below for more information on each design stage: Preliminary Design Detail Design Certification/Approval

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Rotax 914 powered Eurofox aircraft 29 May 2024 Mandatory Technical Directive, MTD-03-2024 has been issued today to introduce mandatory disabling of cabin heat on examples of the type fitted with Rotax 914 (and derivative) engines. This follows an in-service occurrence of carbon monoxide entering the cabin due to leaks from the exhaust system. The MTD must be carried out before flight on or after 5th June 2024. This MTD has been emailed to all affected owners. Next Previous

Flight Testing Aircraft The following current flight test schedules are available for printing. These schedules are subject to change at any time and without notice. Ensure that the current flight test schedule is used otherwise it may not be accepted. For this reason it is not advisable to save these document on your computer. Flight Testing Forms & Schedules Other useful documentation is as follows: TL 1.19 Initial Testing Flying Pilot Briefing for First Flight TL 2.00 Revalidating a Permit to Fly CAP 1038 CAA Check Flight Handbook TL 3.19 Auto-Pilot Flight Test Notes TL 3.22 Flight Test Reports TL 3.23 Constant Speed Prop Set-Up TL 3.25 General notes and limitations on test flights Airpseed Indicator Calibration Climb-Performance Plotter FAA Flight Testing Handbook

< 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

Popular Flying Magazine 1957 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 1957 Jan 1955 PFA Bulletin March 1957 May/June 1957 July/August 1957 October/November 1957 December 1957 April 1957 September 1957

Pilot Coaching Scheme LAA DTO The LAA is a CAA Declared Training Organisation (DTO). Our enjoyment of flying, and the ability to share that with others, carries with it a responsibility to maintain good standards of flying and airmanship. The Pilot Coaching Scheme (PCS) provides coaches to assist with specific courses and any general training need. COACHES The LAA has the Pilot Coaching Scheme - all Coaches are current CAA and Part 21-FCL certified Class Rating Instructors, Flight Instructors, or Flight Examiners. They’re also your trainer, confidante and mentor throughout the process of you learning to fly your aircraft. FIND A COACH Click on the button below to go to a map of all the LAA Coaches. You can find out their location, contact details, photograph and a short profile about them. Most coaches are happy to travel reasonable distances to accommodate your needs. WHY HAVE THE PCS? Statistics show that for LAA aircraft, the transition of a pilot onto a new aircraft type is a frequent source of accidents, more so than the aircraft's initial test flying phase. The same is true of the first flight of any unfamiliar aircraft, whether it is a home-built, vintage, or microlight. HOW IT WORKS Most LAA coaches have completed all differences themselves applicable to LAA types, so they can provide your differences or familiarisation training - though naturally, before doing so, they may need the opportunity to fly the aircraft sufficiently to acquaint themselves with the individual model concerned. WHAT DOES THE PCS OFFER? The PCS offers Licence Revalidation & Renewals, Differences Training, Familiarisation Training, Type Conversions, Licence Migrations and much more! Click the button below to find out what each of these means in detail. CLICK HERE TO FIND A COACH CLICK HERE FOR PCS DETAILS CLICK HERE FOR THE PILOT COACHING SCHEME DOCUMENTS (CSDs) CLICK HERE FOR PILOT COACHING SCHEME MAGAZINE ARTICLES