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< Back CAA Licencing Update 11 Jun 2025 ** The final legislation has not yet come into force and we’ll provide more comprehensive details when we have confirmation of the actual legislation (hopefully late July) that has gone to Parliament ** Link to document can be found below: CAA Licencing update .pdf Download PDF • 459KB Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert issued for Lycoming Engines 28 Nov 2024 The LAA has issued Alert A-02-2024 (link below) to highlight the recent Lycoming Airworthiness Directive regarding connecting rod bushings and connecting rod assemblies. The FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for models of Lycoming engines that have an affected part installed and are assembled within the ship date range, as specified in Table 1 to paragraph (c) of this Airworthiness Directive (AD 2024-21-02). The AD comes into effect on 5th December 2024. This AD was prompted by several reports of connecting rod failures which resulted in uncontained engine failure and in-flight shutdowns. The AD requires repetitive oil inspections for bronze metal particulates at each oil change, and if found, additional inspections of the connecting rod bushings for damage, proper fit, movement, and wear, and replacement if necessary. The first oil inspection must take at the next oil change or within 4 months after the AD becomes effective i.e. 5th April 2025, whichever occurs first. As terminating action to the connecting rod bushing inspections, this AD requires replacement of the connecting rod bushings with parts eligible for installation. LAA A-02-2024 - Lycoming Connecting Rod Assemblies .pdf Download PDF • 203KB Next Previous

Aircraft Fabric Covering Course Price Member - £406, Non-Member - £426 Duration 2 day course. Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. < Back About the Course Our covering course is presented by Chris and Alex, father and son team who run Aircraft Coverings Ltd., the UK dealer for Consolidated Aircraft Coverings products. This is a hands-on course held over 2 days, not a lecture, so you will be working with the tools and materials, learning the required skills and you will undoubtedly surprise yourself by how quickly you begin to pick things up! The course is held at Aircraft Coverings Ltd premises at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset and the course cost includes all materials and lunches. Your Instructor Chris and Alex Allen Dates 21 & 22 October 2026 Times 2 day course. Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. Duration Two days Venue Henstridge Airfield, Somerset, BA8 0TN Price Member - £406, Non-Member - £426 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 New LAA Inspector - Tom Bootyman 20 Jun 2024 We are pleased to welcome Tom Bootyman as an LAA Inspector. Tom attended an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of June. Tom is a serial aircraft builder/maintainer/repairer, also with several years’ experience as an engineer with a global aerobatic team. He has experience building and repairing Zenair and Vans RV types, along with working on many aerobatic aircraft. He is also an experienced aircraft painter. Tom has a love and devotion to all things aviation, so he is always open to requests for information, advice and Permit inspections. He is based at Netherthorpe (Sheffield), but willing to travel. Next Previous

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

For part-built LAA projects, the new owner/builder needs to continue following the LAA amateur-build process. For already-flying LAA aircraft, the new owner simply takes on the responsibilities of the old owner for looking after the airworthiness of the aircraft. The restoration of an aircraft might range from dusting off the cobwebs and giving the engine a good service, to a full strip down to component parts and fabricating missing or damaged parts. It is also possible, in some circumstances, to import a part-built or completed aircraft from overseas. This is generally only possible where the type is already accepted by the LAA, the aircraft can be shown to have been amateur-built under a similar regime to that in the UK, and which is readily inspectable to confirm the build standard. A number of LAA types come under the heading ‘orphaned vintage types’. These are types that are no longer supported by their manufacturer and have been deemed ‘orphaned’ by the CAA (e.g. Austers). There are also some types that can elect to operate either on a Certificate of Airworthiness or on an LAA-administered Permit to Fly (e.g. Chipmunks). Buying an Aircraft Not everyone has the inclination, ability or time available to build an aircraft. The only route then is to buy a part-built aircraft for completion, a ready-flying aircraft or an aircraft in need of restoration. When buying an aircraft, the overriding message is ‘Buyer Beware!’ If you’re buying an aircraft that is already flying within the LAA system, you mainly need to satisfy yourself that it’s in an acceptable condition and meets your needs. LAA Inspectors are often happy to look over an aircraft for you to help you make a technical assessment of its condition. Another area you should consider is whether it has enough payload to take you where you want to go. When buying a partially-built aircraft or one from overseas, you need to make sure that the aircraft is eligible to hold a UK Permit to Fly and is in a configuration that the LAA can accept. It is usually a good idea to drop LAA Engineering an email to check before you part with large amounts of money. For further information, click the button below or look in the 'Classifieds' section of the LAA Magazine Click here for more information

Operating & Maintaining Aircraft This section is intended to cover everything that happens once the aircraft is in a flying state. From a technical point of view, the most import of these is keeping on top of the aircraft’s maintenance. This is critical in enabling an owner to meet their obligation to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AVGAS UL91 & UL94 ETHANOL-FREE MOGAS WEIGHT & BALANCE E5 MOGAS REVALIDATING A PERMIT TO FLY 97 OCTANE SUPER-UNLEADED E10 MOGAS - NOT APPROVED

Caring for your Gipsy Major - Basic Course Price Member - £213, Non-Member - £233 Duration Arrival 09:45. Finish 17:00. < Back About the Course Caring for your Gipsy Major course presented by acknowledged DH Gipsy engine aficionade, Dennis Neville. Dennis will explain the ins and outs of these vintage aircraft engines and solve those starting difficulties. Your Instructor Dennis Neville Dates TBC Times Arrival 09:45. Finish 17:00. Duration One day course Venue LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome, NN13 5YD Price Member - £213, Non-Member - £233 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 LAA Alert A-15-2025 Glasair Rudder Pedal Bearing Failures 23 Dec 2025 LAA Alert A-15-2025 Glasair Rudder Pedal Bearing Failures A recent social media report has brought attention to two rudder pedal bearing failure events on a non-LAA Glasair. These bearings attach each rudder pedal assembly to the bearing support ribs. Owners and Inspectors should carry out frequent inspections of these bearings for signs of cracking, breaking, excessive play or any other abnormalities. Pilots should also conduct effective full-and-free movement checks during taxiing to ensure correct rudder pedal operation prior to take-off. If there are any doubts on the bearings’ condition, age, or origin, they should be replaced with newly made ones. Instructions on how to make new bearings from a 3/4" UHMWPE sheet can be found in the Stoddard-Hamilton Instruction Manual. Please refer to the LAA Alert A-15-2025 HERE or below for full details and recommended checks. A-15-2025 Glasair Rudder Pedal Bearing Failures .pdf Download PDF • 309KB Next Previous

< Back Returning LAA Inspector - Chris Norris 28 Nov 2025 We are pleased to welcome back Chris Norris. Chris returns as an LAA Inspector, following a few years away from the role. Chris is a licenced aircraft engineer, currently working at Vintage Fabrics at Audley End. Next Previous

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Light Aviation Magazine 2012 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2012 January 2012 April 2012 July 2012 October 2012 February 2012 May 2012 August 2012 November 2012 March 2012 June 2012 September 2012 December 2012