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< 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

Permit Aircraft Electrics - Basic Course Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Duration Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. < Back About the Course This course provides the theory and practical knowledge to enable the implementation of a basic electrical system in permit aircraft. Although the course necessarily includes a small amount of technical theory; it is only included at a level needed (essentially Ohms Law) to understand how wire sizes, fuses, circuit breakers and other components etc are selected. The basic premise of the introductory course is that the owner/builder already has a circuit diagram to work from (few kit manufacturers provide electrical diagrams, so the course includes details of where such ‘standard’ diagrams may be found). They are not expected to do any design work, but they do need to source the materials and components and build a working, reliable and safe installation. The course explains how to interpret a ‘typical’ permit aircraft electrical systems diagram and for every element, explains how to size, select and source components and then how to practically install them. The course uses a PowerPoint presentation for the theory side, a demonstration electrical panel in the classroom so that attendees can see the various options and good practice for wiring and systems installation and also runs two practical sessions in the LAA workshop which includes practical soldering, wire stripping and connector crimping, cable marking options, use of heat shrink, radio antenna coax connector installation and the correct crimping and installation of typical D Sub connectors used for avionics systems. What this course will try to do is: Introduce and explain the components of a wiring system Help you understand a circuit diagram Give practical experience in wiring techniques Give the knowledge to select and source cables and components Explain failure modes and reliability issues Help you conduct basic fault finding Warn about the ‘gotcha’ areas and the things to look out for What the course will not do is: Turn you into a design engineer Enable you to design an aircraft EWIS Enable you to fault find on an undocumented aircraft installation Solve interference issues Delve into avionics Your Instructor Mark Castle-Smith Dates Saturday 5 December 2026 Times Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. Duration One day course Venue LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome, NN13 5YD Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Booking Pls call the LAA on 01280 846 786 to enquire/book or email cheryl.routledge@laa.uk.com . *Please note that payment is required when booking, to confirm your place. NO place will be held without confirmed payment* **Please note that your booking payment is non-refundable unless we can fill your place timeously or there are exceptional circumstances**

< Back ROTAX® Service Bulletins – Inspection of the Propeller Gearbox 2 Dec 2025 Inspection of the propeller gearbox of ROTAX® 915 i and 916 i(Series) Aircraft Engines ROTAX has issued new Service Bulletins regarding the inspection of the propeller gearbox on ROTAX® 915 i and 916 i (Series) aircraft engines. These bulletins below outline the required inspection procedures, affected serial numbers, and any necessary corrective actions. · ASB-915 i-021R1 / ASB-916 i-009R1 · ASB-915 i-021iS R1 / ASB-916 i-009iS R1 Compliance with these bulletins is important to ensure continued airworthiness and safe operation of your aircraft. ASB_915 i-021R1_916 i-009R1 .pdf Download PDF • 1.31MB ASB_915 i-021iSR1_916 i-009iSR1 .pdf Download PDF • 85KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-02-2025 issued - Mission M108 Nose Leg Failures 6 Jun 2025 MTD-02-2025 - 'Nose leg failures' was issued today for Mission M108 aircraft. This MTD can be found HERE and is also attached below. Three instances of nose leg failure have occurred in the past 12 months, two of which recently. This MTD mandates the regular inspection of this area until a long-term fix has been put in place. Lambert Aircraft Engineering is working to finalise a solution as soon as possible, working closely with the LAA. We will update the MTD as appropriate once a solution is in place. MTD-02-2025 - Mission M108 Nose Leg .pdf Download PDF • 212KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 published - Eurofox Rudder Pedals 7 Jan 2026 MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 has been published to provide further information on the situation as it develops and asking Owners and Inspectors to report back. The inspection schedule in unchanged from Issue 1 or Issue 2. Therefore, Issue 3 does not require you or your Inspector to do anything different. If your aircraft has already been inspected to MTD-05-2025 Issue 1 or Issue 2, then the next time an inspection in accordance with the MTD is due, you Inspector should reference Issue 3 in their logbook entry. LAA is continuing to work towards achieving a permanent solution via a modification to the rudder pedal/torque tube design. MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 is attached below and can be found on the website HERE . 20260107 - MTD-05-2025 Issue 3 - Eurofox Rudder Pedal Cracking .pdf Download PDF • 883KB 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 LAA Rally and Service Awards 2025 24 Oct 2025 A list of awards can be found below: LAA Awards .pdf Download PDF • 139KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-07-2026 Issue 1 - Horizontal Stabiliser Forward Attach Bolt Position 19 Aug 2026 LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-07-2026 Issue 1 is published today, relating to the inspection of the forward horizontal stabiliser attachment positions. A number of Van’s RV aircraft inspections have discovered instances of deviations from the drawings in which the bolt positions at the horizontal stabilizer forward attachment point to the fuselage have not been drilled in the locations shown on the drawing, either in the spanwise direction or fore-and-aft directions, or both. This Mandatory Technical Directive is published to mandate the actions called for in Van's Service Bulletin, SB 00134, which was issued in 15th August 2026. If one or more hole positions fall outside the range of acceptable positions as stated in SB 00134, then DO NOT FLY the aircraft, complete the form provided in Appendix A and send it to Van’s Aircraft and LAA Engineering for further advice. Please refer to the MTD below for full applicability and compliance requirements. 20260819 - MTD-07-2026 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Attachment Position .pdf Download PDF • 916KB SB 00134 - Horizontal Stabilizer Forward Attach Bolts .pdf Download PDF • 1.31MB Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Clive Sutton 28 Mar 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Clive Sutton as a new LAA Inspector. Clive came to an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of March. Clive is ex-RAF, a Chartered Engineer and a BMAA Inspector. He prefers composite & metal airframes and Rotax 4-stroke engines (especially the Europa type). He has little experience with 2-strokes of Continentals/Lycomings or wood and fabric aircraft. He is ready to travel a maximum of an hour; Wellesbourne, Bidford and Coventry are within easy reach for him. Next Previous

< Back LAA 'Grass Roots Fly-In' returns 23 Apr 2023 The LAA is returning to the green grass of Popham Aerodrome in Hampshire for a repeat of its “Grass Roots Fly In” from 18th to 20th August 2023. The Fly-In will again on one hand take the Associate back to its traditional roots, while continuing to offer the first chance to see some of the latest aircraft and products in the recreational aviation market. What was particularly notable about the 2022 Popham event was its sociality. LAA members and exhibitors alike commented on its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with post-event comments such as “It’s a great reunion as well as a fly-in–cum trade show” and “super friendly, the event always had a good vibe”. A joint venture with Popham Aerodrome, the LAA Grass Roots Fly In will develop its strengths as a social event bringing flyers from around the UK and Europe to meet fellow enthusiasts. The grass runways at Popham and the airfield’s famed rural ambience will mean that the event will focus on the fly-in and social element as much as on a large exhibition campus. The earlier mid-August date will also mean longer evenings, allowing more scope for flyers from further afield and hopefully, milder conditions for those who choose to ‘camp under the wing’. Said LAA CEO designate Simon Tilling: “The LAA Grass Roots Fly In was a great success last year, with over 3,000 visitors, more than 30 exhibitors and a total of 350 visiting aircraft through the weekend. It is a different event to the past, larger scale LAA Rallies and we’re working on plans for the continuation of a larger scale LAA event in the future. For this year, we’re looking forward to another great, social and fun, LAA fly in”. Next Previous

< Back MTD-06-2026 - Vixxen Forward Wing Attachment Reinforcement 14 Aug 2026 LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-06-2026 Issue 1 has been issued today, relating to the inspection and reinforcement of the forward wing attachments of A-32 Vixxen and A-32-M Vixxen aircraft operating on an LAA Permit to Fly with Aeroprakt serial numbers up to and including #370 , which have accumulated 3000 flight hours or more. In December 2025, Aeroprakt issued Service Bulletin SB A32-25 to address cracking in the spar wall (web) and in the reinforcing plate near the forward wing attachment fitting, which, according to Aeroprakt, may lead to the disintegration of the aircraft in flight. Given the severe consequence identified in the Service Bulletin, this MTD is raised to mandate the reinforcement of the forward wing attachment fittings as described in SB A32-25 for aircraft within the applicable serial number range, which have accumulated 3000 flight hours or more. For aircraft in the affected serial number range which have not accumulated 3000 flight hours, the reinforcement remains a recommendation in line with SB A32-25. Please refer to the MTD below for full applicability, aircraft identification guidance, and compliance requirements. MTD-06-2026 - Vixxen Foward Wing Attachment Reinforcement .pdf Download PDF • 147KB SB-A32-25 - Reinforcement of forward wing attachment fittings .pdf Download PDF • 1.22MB Next Previous

< Back Permit Revalidation Forms updated 1 Dec 2023 The Airworthiness Review Report (LAA/ARR-1) and Permit Revalidation Application (LAA/PTF-REVAL) forms have both been upissued to Issue 6. These forms form part of the Permit to Fly Revalidation Process. The latest issues of the forms can be downloaded here . Technical Leaflet 2.00 (Revalidating your Aircraft's Permit to Fly) has also been updated to Issue 5 to reflect these changes and can be downloaded here . Next Previous