< Back LAA at AeroExpo 9 Jun 2023 We're at AeroExpo UK at Sywell. Come and meet the LAA and friends in the LAA tent tomorrow. Alongside the LAA, we have Transair Flight Equipment, Cambrai Covers, AIR Courtage Assurances, PilotAware, Sling Aircraft, Bristell Aircraft UK, SEHT and Smart Skies! #aeroexpo #meetthelaa Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mark Wilkinson 15 Aug 2025 We are pleased to welcome Mark Wilkinson as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Mark’s aviation career began with 11 years of service in the Royal Air Force, where he initially worked on the Bulldog and Chipmunk aircraft before progressing to the Tornado. Following his military service, Mark spent 25 years in commercial aviation, working primarily on large passenger aircraft - focusing on turboprops and regional jets. This period included a three-year relocation to France, where he was responsible for supporting a BAE146 aircraft. Mark then dedicated eight years to the initial setup and maintenance of the A400M program, before taking on a role maintaining the Grob Tutor aircraft - bringing his career full circle back to light aviation. From his early days working on the Bulldog, he has always had a genuine passion for light aviation. Mark would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the light aviation community, offering support and advice wherever he can. Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert for Rotax 900 series engines regarding the oil spray nozzle 18 Dec 2024 Inspection and/or Replacement of Oil Spray Nozzle On 16.12.24, Rotax issued a new MANDATORY Service Bulletin SB 912 i-016/SB 915 i-016 / SB 916 i-006 which calls 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. 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 .pdf Download PDF • 205KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mike Wigg 22 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome Mike Wigg as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. With a deep passion for vintage aeroplanes, Mike strives to bring joy to all enthusiasts by keeping these remarkable vintage aircraft flying. With extensive engineering experience from both military and civilian sectors, he is dedicated to supporting owners in maintaining their beloved planes. Based near Duxford in Cambridgeshire, Mike travels across the UK and beyond to ensure these classic aeroplanes remain airworthy. If you're an owner in need of maintenance, repair, or inspection, please don't hesitate to reach out! Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert - FAA issues AD for Piper rudder posts 14 Feb 2025 Replacement of rudder posts not made from 4130N On 13.02.25, FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 2025-02-11 which requires the replacement of the rudder post on a large number of Piper types, where the part is not made from 4130N steel. Compliance time varies between 2 years and 10 years depending on whether a beacon light is fitted to the top of the fin post and depending on the power of the engine installed. LAA Alert A-01-2025 has been created to communicate this to potentially affected owners. A-01-2025 Piper rudder post AD .pdf Download PDF • 196KB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Ian Pattingale 6 Feb 2024 It is time to introduce you to the final new LAA Inspector from the recent batch of LAA Inspector Assessment Days - Ian Pattingale. Ian spent 9 years in the RAF as a propulsion technician, after a brief spell as a Development Engineer. He then spent the following 30 years at British Airways in various roles from aircraft Technical Instructor to B737 Flight Test Engineer. His current job is as an Engineer in London Heathrow Engineering Operations, where we are responsible for providing serviceable aircraft to support the flying programme. He's a keen glider pilot with a current 'Full Cat' instructor rating, as well as a 'Senior Inspector/Chief Engineer (ARC Signatory)' on wood, composite and metal airframes for gliders. In addition, he's a B1 Licensed, with current B777 ratings . As a member of the Vintage Gliding Club, Ian is keen to promote the continuing airworthiness of 'vintage' glider types - a current project that I am working on is the restoration of a 1976 Schleicher ASK18 to a fully airworthy flying condition. Next Previous

< 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 Employment Opportunity - Advertising, Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager 30 Nov 2023 The LAA are hiring! Advertising Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager The Light Aircraft Association supports its members build, maintain, fly and enjoy light aircraft. We have over 7000 members and look after over 4000 aircraft across the UK. We are looking someone to take control of our advertising, sales, marketing and social media. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right person to help define, implement and then deliver the strategy to transform the way the LAA communicates with its 7000-plus members. What you will do:- Work with our advertising partners to ensure they get the best ROI for their advertising spend in our magazine – Light Aviation Work with the Editor to ensure all advertising space is filled Work with the CEO ang HQ team to develop and implement a multichannel communications strategy Grow and manage the LAA’s social media presence What we offer: The chance to make a difference – We are a small team, we are all passionate about aviation and everyone counts! Develop your skills The opportunity to get flying Hybrid working Paid holidays This role would ideally suit someone with a Degree in Business/Business Management with an interest in Sales and Marketing 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 - Gary Priestley 4 Dec 2025 We are pleased to welcome Gary Priestley as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston. Gary started at BAe Filton as an Aeronautical Engineering Apprentice in 1978. His first day out of the training bay was spent working on the test and development Concorde 002. During his apprenticeship he worked on the VC10's air-to-air refuelling conversion and on test and development for Airbus on the fly-by-wire BAC 1-11. After his apprenticeship he became an Inspector on the F1-11s, with his main role involving pre- and post-inspection of the Cold Soak, where the aircraft were frozen and bent to re-life them. He transferred to Warton for the Al-Yamama project, working on Tornado ADVs and IDS aircraft in Saudi Arabia. Gary returned in 1990 and was recruited as a technical instructor at British Aerospace Filton, teaching the following: Concorde pilots and flight engineers, utilising the simulator to help them pass their ground school type rating. Aircraft fitters working toward their B2 and B1 licences, as well as type courses on the A300 B4 and A300-600, where the aircraft were being converted to freighters. The BAC 1-11 refresher course for the Sultan of Oman Air Force pilots. Type rating for British Airways Concorde engineers at Heathrow. Apprentices studying for their City and Guilds. Night-school City and Guilds for non-skilled fitters. While carrying out this training, he repaired a Robin HR 200 with the help of the apprentices and studied for his Commercial and subsequently his Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. Gary left BAe in 1999 to fly the BAe 146 for CityJet in Dublin, before being asked, through CityJet, if he would like to transfer to British Midland to fly the BAe 146 for Lufthansa. A few years later he was made redundant, gained his Helicopter Commercial Pilot’s Licence, but was then asked to join Flightline on the BAe 146, flying oil-rig workers from Aberdeen to Scatsta and later working out of Manchester for British Airways. An opportunity arose to fly with Titan Airways in Stansted, flying ad-hoc standby for British Airways, easyJet, and others. Several years later he completed a type-rating course on the Boeing 737 to fly from Exeter. He took voluntary redundancy in 2013. By chance, after buying a prestigious car from someone who owned an aircraft at Middlezoy, Gary made the connection that brought him into affiliation with Middlezoy Aerodrome, where he now has a share in Louis, the Taylorcraft type D, and is 50% owner of the Isaac Fury. 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

< Back Gyroplanes to join the new online Permit Revalidation System 17 Jun 2025 The new online Permit Revalidation system has been in place for fixed-wing aircraft on the LAA fleet since 15th April 2025 and now it is time to add Gyroplanes, both amateur-built and factory-built. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that gyroplane Owners and Inspectors will be able to use the online Permit Revalidation system from 22nd July 2025! The Permit Revalidation Process for gyroplanes will follow the same three steps as for fixed-wing aircraft, shown in the graphic below. The only differences will be small changes to the questions in line with the requirements for gyroplanes, such as asking about the rotor and rotor-head. Where do I find more information? If you are a Gyroplane Owner or Inspector, then please talk to your friends that own and inspect fixed-wing aircraft, as many of them will have been through this new process. There is lots of information to help you: Technical Leaflet 2.00 – Revalidating an Aircraft’s Permit to Fly , will be updated on 22nd July to include information regarding gyroplanes A detailed step-by-step video guide is available on the LAA’s YouTube channel, called ‘ Online Permit Revalidation Explained .’ A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available on the LAA website. Again, these will be updated on 22nd July to include Gyroplanes For more information, click HERE . Note: the 22nd July is a hard deadline, so LAA Engineering will not accept applications made under the old system from that date. Changes to Permit Revalidation Fees for Gyroplane Owners From 22nd July, Permit Revalidation Fees for gyroplanes will be based on Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW), rather than Factory Built Gyroplanes always having a fee of £323. This is in line with the charging regime for fixed-wing aircraft. The current charges are as follows: 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 Next Previous