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 Armstrong-Isaacs Bursaries for 2024 5 Dec 2023 Magnificent seven Armstrong-Isaacs bursaries for 2024! Thanks to the generosity of one of the LAA member donors, based out of Barton, their company PTS Ltd is sponsoring an additional two bursaries. This means that in addition to the five existing bursaries, an additional two bursaries for 2024 of £1,500 are being offered to support young pilots already in PPL training, bringing the total available to seven. More information on the bursaries can be found here . Next Previous

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

< 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

Lycoming Lycoming engines in certain specific airframe types have been approved by the CAA for the use of unleaded Mogas, using the process described in CAP747 , See Section 2, Part 4, General Concession 5. This involves purchasing an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) from either the EAA or Petersen Aviation in the USA and carrying out the actions called for by the STC. The procedures stated in CAP747 may be followed for LAA aircraft but only for aircraft with the exact same engine/airframe combinations quoted on in CAP747.. An LAA inspector must check that the aircraft operator has obtained a copy of CAP747, Section 2, Part 4, GC5 and of the appropriate STC and complied with the actions called for therein, and signed off a suitable logbook entry accordingly before the aircraft may be flown with unleaded Mogas.

< 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

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Supermarine Spitfire mk26 and mk26a 16 Feb 2024 It has been found that there is potential for the fin of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk26 and 26B to be misaligned during build, due to a build-up of tolerances in the fin and its attachment, possibly leading to a mis-rigging of the rudder and failure to achieve the desired range of rudder travel. This could possibly result in degraded controllability in flight and on take-off and landing. In the interests of safety MTD 01-2024 calls for mandatory checks to be made on the fin alignment and rudder range of movement. Next Previous

< Back LAA Open Day - Saturday 1st June 2024 9 May 2024 Flying in? PPR is needed. Contact: [email protected] Browse through our Flea Market table Meet LAA staff and Board Members Talk by Lucy Wootton our Chief Inspector on "How I got into flying" Instructors available to answer any questions you may have Browse through our retail shop for LAA merchandise, including charts, log books and clothing. A selection of LAA magazines available for free! Tea and coffee served in our members area and also a catering van will be available on-site for food and refreshments,. Next Previous

The Annual General Meeting of the Light Aircraft Association Ltd Old Warden Aerodrome Airfield of The Shuttleworth Collection Bedfordshire 15th October 2023 This year we are holding our AGM at Old Warden which will be a hybrid meeting, face-to-face for those who wish to attend, and a virtual facility for those who wish to ‘attend’ remotely. The AGM is scheduled to commence at 12hrs on Sunday 15th October. The programme for the day will be: 1100 - Tea/coffee 1130 - Welcome from Eryl Smith, LAA Chairman. 1135 - Presentation of LAA Service Awards and LAA Rally Awards 1200 - AGM 1300 - CEO overview and Members Forum. An opportunity for members to discuss issues and ideas with the Board. 1400 - Thanks and closure of the meeting. AGM Documents 2023 LAA AGM Agenda 2022 LAA AGM Minutes Annual Report & Accounts Proxy Voting Form Proxy Voting Form Notes Treasurer's Report

Light Aviation Magazine 2023 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2023 January 2023 April 2023 July 2023 October 2023 February 2023 May 2023 August 2023 November 2023 March 2023 June 2023 September 2023 December 2023

Hirth 2 Stroke Covering Letter to Owners Fuel System Inspection Checklist

< 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