Light Aviation Magazine 2017 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2017 January 2017 April 2017 July 2017 October 2017 February 2017 May 2017 August 2017 November 2017 March 2017 June 2017 September 2017 December 2017

< Back Engineering updates in February 1 Mar 2024 The following documents have been updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during February. Continuing airworthiness information: Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-01-2024 issue 2 Supermarine Spitfire, geometry/symmetry checks on fin. TADS : Aeroprakt Foxbat Alpi Pioneer 300/300 Hawk Beagle/Auster Continental engines Sling 4 TSi Sonex Stolp Stardust Too Vans RV-9/-9A Vans RV-14/-14A Technical Leaflets : TL 1.10 'List of aircraft parts and materials suppliers' TL 2.12 'Replacement of lost documents' Forms: MOD 4 'Application for approval to change propeller' MOD 13 'STC installation' Next Previous

< Back Airworthiness Coordinator wanted at LAA HQ 4 Feb 2025 Join Our Skies: Airworthiness Coordinator at Light Aircraft Association Are you ready to take your career to new heights? The Light Aircraft Association (LAA) is looking for an enthusiastic Coordinator to join our dynamic team. We're a vibrant member organisation for homebuilt, vintage, and recreational aircraft in the UK, based at the picturesque Turweston Airfield in Northamptonshire. Why Join Us? At the LAA, you'll be part of a dedicated team that supports the safety of an impressive fleet of around 4,300 aircraft. Our team works closely with 330 volunteer Inspectors who help keep our aircraft safe and airworthy. Your Role As the Coordinator for our Airworthiness Team, your key duties will include: Keeping track of incoming issues and making sure they are addressed promptly Following up on audit findings and ensuring timely completion of tasks Assisting with the Permit to Fly revalidation system Managing the process for Inspector applications, assessment days, and authorisation extensions Tracking Inspector status and ensuring they meet prescribed criteria Organising and administering Inspector Training and the annual renewal processes What We're Looking For We seek candidates with excellent time-management, organisation, and team-working skills, alongside strong communication abilities to liaise effectively with fellow staff members, Inspectors, and aircraft owners. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook, is essential. You'll thrive in our small, dedicated team and contribute to overseeing over 500 aircraft types. Perks and Benefits Competitive salary: £27,000 to £32,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience Flexible working option, with the potential for one to two days a week working from home Be part of a passionate team committed to aviation safety Work in a beautiful rural location at Turweston Airfield How to Apply Ready to soar with us? Submit your CV and a covering letter by 28 February 2025 to the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection, Lucy Wootton, by emailing [email protected] . Interviews will be held in March, with the successful candidate joining our team in late April/early May. Join us in ensuring the sky's the limit for aviation safety at the Light Aircraft Association! 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 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 Malcolm McBride 28 Jan 2026 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 members - Make your views known! 25 Jan 2024 Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council's consultation on their draft Local Plan – which includes a proposed new Popham Garden Village on Popham Airfield, has opened. It runs until 4 March 2024. This proposal is not in line with either Government policy or their stated aim to make the UK the best place in the world for General Aviation. The Government's policy can be found in their publication ' Flightpath to the Future " and makes repeated references to the vital importance of airfields, forming a critical part of national infrastructure. You can have your say and tell Basingstoke & Deane Council that their proposal is contrary to Government policy and insist the proposal is removed from the current ‘draft’ strategic plan. Visit the Local Plan Update ' Have Your Say ' section of their webiste. Next Previous

< Back Telephones 4 Apr 2024 Please note that the LAA phone system is being updated today and currently we are unable to receive any incoming calls. We appreciate the inconvenience this may be causing but we envisage they will only be down for part of the day. Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Eurofox aircraft 6 Dec 2024 Inspection of Trim Tab Operating Cable Attachment to Prevent In-Flight Failures and replacement with Improved Design of Cable Attachment In 2016, the LAA issued an Alert, LAA/AWA/16/08 , regarding reported problems with the thin stranded steel elevator trim cable on Eurofox aircraft fraying at the attachment point to the trim tab operating horn, where the design forced the cable to be bent around the sharp edges of the clevis. The 2016 Alert also provided a link to, and served to promulgate, the Eurofox UK Service Bulletin on the subject, SB 04/2016 . Recently we’ve been advised of a potentially serious incident of elevator flutter on a Eurofox while towing a glider, which was caused by the trim cable failing altogether in flight where it passes around the trim tab operating horn clevis. This resulted in violent shaking of the elevator with serious potential for structural damage or loss of control. Since the cable had evidently frayed considerably before failing altogether, this occurrence highlights the importance inspecting the trim cable for signs of fraying at this point at each pre-flight and maintenance check, and, as the service bulletin explains, of keeping the clevis free-moving about its attachment to the tab so the clevis remains in line with the cable as the tab moves. This minimises the relative movement between the two which if occurring, would accelerate the wear on the cable. Eurofox UK advises that since the issue of the 2016 Service Bulletin, they have revised the design of the cable attachment clevis so that the cable now passes around a circular bush rather than being forced into two sharp bends, which reduces the wear on the cable and tendency to fray and eventually break. MTD-07-2024 , issued today, requires Owners/Operators to check whether the old or new design of clevises are fitted and for any signs of trim cable fraying before further flight. Owners/Operators must obtain and use a copy of the up-issued AEROPRO Checklist - B Service/Maintenance plan (Update Nov 2024 LAA aircraft) before the next 50-hour check. Finally, the trim cable system must be replaced immediately if any trim cable fraying is found, as detailed in the MTD. Furthermore, all Eurofoxes with the old-style of clevis must have the trim cable system replaced, as described in the MTD, by 1st June 2025. MTD-07-2024 Eurofox Trim Cable .pdf Download PDF • 495KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mark Bodger 23 Oct 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Mark Bodger as a new LAA Inspector. Mark has considerable experience on metal and wooden aircraft. He has rebuilt a Turbulent, Nipper, Colibri, Pitts, Vans RV-4 and completed new build projects including an Isaacs Fury and plans Replica SE5a. He has experience in VW engines, having rebuilt several. In his 30 years of LAA membership, he has owned over 20 LAA types, giving him a broad exposure to the maintenance of different aircraft. He also has the facilities to weigh aircraft. Congratulations Mark! 🎉 Next Previous

< 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 - Ben Davis 27 Nov 2025 We are pleased to welcome Ben Davis as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Ben has been an aircraft owner for about twenty years and has become something of a fan of the (mighty) Alpi Pioneer series. He’s owned several and flown several more. Ben has also refurbished and upgraded a number of Pioneers with new avionics, autopilots, and instruments. Along the way, he has owned and improved a Europa and a few other types, but he always seems to find his way back to a Pioneer! Ben also enjoys staring out of the front window of little biz jets. With a background in electronics, moving into avionics was a natural step for him. Ben is a Rotax iRMT (Line & Heavy), a BMAA Inspector, and now also an LAA Inspector, combining his technical background with years of hands-on experience. Ben is based at Finmere, just a short hop from LAA HQ, and is always happy to help other owners with maintenance, upgrades, or just a good aviation chat. You can find him sharing projects and flying adventures on social media as @benfly79. Next Previous