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Light Aviation Magazine Archive 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022 2020 2021 2023 2024 2019

< 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 Engineering updates in October 11 Nov 2025 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during October. Continuing airworthiness information : Alert A-11-2025 - Eurostar control system rose joints Alert A-12-2025 - Aeroprakt windscreens TADS: Evektor Eurostar Vans RV-9/-9A Propeller type lists PTL/1 : Murphy Renegade 912 (new) Murphy Renegade Spirit (new) Vans RV-6 (up-issued) Next Previous

< Back Engineering updates in February and March 11 Apr 2025 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during February and March. Technical leaflets : TL 1.10 - List of aircraft parts and materials suppliers TL 2.01 - A guide to LAA aircraft ownership TL 2.22 - Non-type specfic MPDs TL 3.25 - Flight test briefing Continuing airworthiness information : Alert A-01-2025 - Piper rudder post Alert A-02-2025 - Rotax crankcase Alert A-03-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines TADS : Brandli Cherry Cessna 120 Eurostar Groppo Trail Rans S5 (204 and 204B) Rotax 4-stroke Sportcruiser Next Previous

< Back Alert 05-2024 - Rotax Oil Spray Nozzles - upissued to Issue 2 24 Jul 2025 LAA Alert 05-2024 - Inspection and/or Replacement of Oil Spray Nozzle in some Rotax 900 series engines - upissued to Issue 2 On 16.12.24, Rotax issued a MANDATORY Service Bulletins SB 912 i-016/SB 915 i-016 / SB 916 i-006 and SB-912 i-016iS / SB-915 i-016iS / SB-916 i-006iS which call 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. Therefore, LAA Alert A-05-2024 was issued on 17th December 2024 regarding this. Subsequently, a revision to the Rotax Service Bulletins was issued on 20.12.24, entitled MANDATORY Alert Service Bulletins ASB 912 i-016 R1/ASB 915 i-016 R1 / ASB 916 i-006 R1 and ASB-912 i-016iS R1 / ASB-915 i-016iS R1 and ASB-916 i 006iS R1. Therefore, on 23rd July 2025, LAA Alert A-05-2024 was upissued to Issue 2, which now supersedes Issue 1. A-05-2024 Issue 2 can be found HERE and is also found below. 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 Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 232KB Next Previous

E10 Mogas From 1st September 2021, the government mandated that all regular grade unleaded petrol must contain up to 10% ethanol, rather than up to 5% as previously. In the autumn of 2021, most filling stations around the UK re-marked their E5 petrol pumps to show that they now supply E10 specification fuel, and started receiving tanker-loads blended with up to 10 percent ethanol content. For the automotive world this means reduced carbon dioxide emissions, which is better for the environment, and, arguably in terms of eco-desirability, a small further reduction in the reliance on fossil fuel. The automotive industry had been preparing for this change, and people with road vehicles registered after 2002 should be able to switch to E10 without noticing any difference. Unfortunately, the additional ethanol content is bad news for aviation users if we were to ignore the change and start putting E10 in our aircraft regardless. Ethanol is a powerful chemical solvent which can attack components including rubberised gaskets and fuel pipes, older lacquered carburettor floats and composite or plastic components in some newer fuel systems. The doubling of the concentration of ethanol in E10 compared to E5 makes it much more likely that problems will be experienced if these parts are not designed to be ethanol-proof. Ethanol also has an affinity for absorbing water, which over time can then become acidic, attacking metal components in the fuel system and engine. Even if there was a practical way to do so in the volumes of fuel we use in our aircraft, we cannot safely remove the ethanol content from the fuel because the ethanol acts as an octane enhancer, so the washed-out fuel would be left with a reduced octane value, likely to cause detonation problems. Another issue is that ethanol-blended fuel has a lower energy density than petrol, so to develop full power from our engines using an E10 fuel, we may need to richen the fuel/air mixture, for example using a bigger carburettor jet size. Owners of Rotax and Jabiru engines are probably already aware that many of these engines are supplied as being able to use E10 fuel – though with Jabiru engines, in particular, it’s far from straightforward because some of the earlier engines require cylinder head modifications and reduced compression ratio if they are to avoid detonation issues when using any form of Mogas. Jabiru also say that Mogas of any type should not be used in commercial flight schools and only at the owners own risk. Even with a supposedly E10-compatable engine, the chemical compatibility problems with fuel system components are such that the LAA does not at present approve the use of E10 Mogas in any LAA amateur-built or vintage aircraft. For factory-built microlights and factory-built gyroplanes, where LAA is not the approving authority but only renews the CAA’s Permits to Fly, owners need to refer to the TADS for the types for details of the approved fuel types, and monitor the service bulletins from the approved manufacturers for news of any updates. Where we need to be particularly careful in reading-across from (hopefully) a trouble-free transition to E10 in automotive use is the big difference between our petrol cars and the way our aircraft engines are configured. Our cars generally have submerged fuel pumps in their petrol tanks and a sealed fuel system. In our aircraft we have an open-vented tank and usually a fuel pump several feet away, often mounted in a hot area of the engine bay near to the engine exhaust, dragging the fuel through a fairly convoluted pipework system, a filter and fuel selector – all features encouraging a vapour lock - and then to make matters worse we want to climb up to altitude and operate in reduced atmospheric pressure. Modern petrol cars have a fuel injection systems rather than carburettors, a circulating fuel system designed to purge any vapour forming in the fuel line, and an ECU that monitors the engine’s parameters constantly and adjusts the fuel mixture strength and ignition timing to prevent damage to the engine – and if all else fails and the engine should ‘pink’, we can hear it from the driver’s seat and drop a gear to lighten the load. Because of the much higher background noise level in our aircraft, detonation cannot be heard and the pilot’s first indication of a problem may be when the first piston crown disintegrates, or a valve head departs its stem. In conclusion - E10 is presently not approved for use in any LAA aircraft. ‘Hoping for the best’ and using E10 fuel in your aircraft regardless could risk ruining the fuel system components, fibreglass tanks falling to bits, engine failure through contamination of the fuel or ruptured fuel pump diaphragms etc, or more serious engine damage. For most of our engines, UL91 Avgas is the best choice, but 97 octane E5 Super Unleaded remains an alternative to the now-obsolete E5 spec Mogas.

LAS will once again be Sponsoring our Homebuilders Tent Entrance Fees All fly-in slot bookings for the event are available via the Eventbrite booking system. Member and public entrance tickets can be bought in advance via the LAA Shop. We are unable to offer refunds for any entry tickets bought in advance * If you are buying member tickets at the gate, please show your membership card (on your mobile or a printed copy) * Your membership card can be found in your LAA Member Area under "My Membership Status/My Membership"" There is free car parking and provision for disabled parking on site. For those arriving by road, Leicester Airfield is easily reached from the north and southwest via J21 on the M1; A563 Sth Leicester Bypass to B582 Gartree Road. Routes from the East and South East via A47 and A6. No dogs are allowed airside BY AIR One landing fee of £10.00 covers a single landing and stay of up to three days and camping by your aircraft. Pilots and accompanying passengers will also need to purchase individual entry tickets to the Rally - available via the LAA Shop . If flying in, you will need to book a slot. PLEASE NOTE ANY FURTHER LANDINGS WILL BE CHARGED. (Local evening flying will be available and not charged) Members : INCLUDES AIRSIDE ACCESS £20 (for all 3 days) LAA, BMAA and BRA members - Please bring proof of membership by way of showing your receipt or mobile phone with membership details. Non-Members £20 for One Day Ticket (does not include airside access) Non-Members AIRSIDE ACCESS £15 for One Day Ticket Children 16 and under go free. Terms of Entry The event organizer reserves the right to refuse entry, or require any person to leave the venue, at their sole discretion. Grounds for the above include, but are not limited to: Disruptive behaviour, or failure to comply with safety staff Airside Access Limitations Ticket holders are required to stay within designated public zones and strictly follow marshal directions. Airside access to view the static aircraft may be restricted at any time for operational or safety reasons. Weather & Cancellation Policy Because a fly-in depends heavily on the weather, while the ground exhibition, STEM zone, and trade marquees go ahead, static displays and aircraft numbers are subject to safe flying conditions. No refunds will given for reduced aircraft numbers due to poor weather nor any refunds can be offered for tickets bought in advance. Prohibited Items (Airfield Specific): Drones, kites, laser pointers, and loose items (like plastic bags or umbrellas) that present a high Foreign Object Debris (FOD) risk to moving aircraft propeller blades. Please note we are unable to issue any refunds for tickets bought in advance.

Light Aviation Magazine 2018 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2018 January 2018 April 2018 July 2018 October 2018 February 2018 May 2018 August 2018 November 2018 March 2018 June 2018 September 2018 December 2018

< Back Advanced LAA Rally Camping Permits - Now closed. Camping permits can be bought onsite. Camping passes, which cover the duration of your stay, are available to purchase on arrival at a cost of £65. Camping facilities, providing basic amenities, including hot showers will be available on site. There is ample ground for caravans and mobile homes. The campsite will be open from midday Thursday 28th August and close on Monday morning 1st September. Please note entry to the Rally Exhibition Site is charged separately. Prices are for the duration of your stay. On site catering and bar will be available in the Exhibition area during event opening hours and evening food, bar and entertainment will be provided by Leicestershire Aero Club in the evenings. Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Chipmunk aircraft 24 May 2024 Mandatory Technical Directive, MTD-04-2024 has been issued by our Head of Airworthiness, Nick Stone, today to introduce mandatory recurring inspections of the flap operating cables following a recent potentially serious incident where one of the flap cables on a Chipmunk failed in flight, leading to an asymmetric flap configuration. The MTD allows a 5 flying hour period of grace before the inspection must be carried out and is being emailed today to all owners of LAA Chipmunks and all LAA Inspectors approved to inspect Chipmunks. Next Previous

Data Protection Policy A Statement About the Information Held on Our Website We make every effort to make sure that the information held on this website is as accurate, as up to date, and as complete as possible. However, there can be occasions where we experience problems in achieving this. This means that we cannot accept liability for any loss, damage, or inconvenience which may occur through your use of the information on this site. We recommend that you contact us for clarification before going any further with anything which you feel could cause loss, damage or inconvenience, as a result of using information on our site. If you find any information on our site that gives you cause for concern, then please tell us, and we will investigate, as appropriate. Also, please understand that we are not in control of any of the sites that we link to from ours. This means that again we do not accept liability for any loss, damage, or inconvenience which may occur through your use of the information on those sites. Please contact the appropriate organisations to check that their information is up to date and accurate. A Statement About the Copyright of Information/Facilities Held on Our Site All of the pages on this website are the copyright of The Light Aircraft Association (unless otherwise stated). Our copyright is protected by UK laws, and by international treaties worldwide. All rights are reserved. Please read the statements below if you would like to publish our information further : We expect notification of further publication of our information as a courtesy. However, permission to use our information (for non-commercial purposes) is given, if we are acknowledged as the source. Privacy Statement GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION - LAA POLICY 1. INTRODUCTION As an organisation which holds personal data in the form of membership and aircraft ownership information, we are required to ensure compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which are designed to ensure more robust security and more transparency in the use of personal data. The GDPR places specific legal obligations on the LAA. For example, we are required to maintain records of personal data processing activities. We will have legal liability if we are responsible for a breach of confidential member data and members have a right to request sight of the data we hold on them, how it is used and if necessary to request that data is removed from our database. 2. OVERALL POLICY The LAA holds personal data from members and data linked to aircraft built or operated by members. We only hold data when there is a justifiable need to do so and will remove data if it is no longer required. The LAA has robust security systems to protect data and information, and will promptly inform anyone affected should any breach occur. Finally, the LAA will not circulate any member information to third parties without prior consent. 3. WHAT WE HOLD We currently hold data which is pertinent to GDPR in six main areas: a) Membership Data. All filing is electronic, via a remotely sited database with no hard copy filing. Name, address, contact numbers and e-mails; age; type and duration of membership; aircraft owned linked to Engineering database; bank details; correspondence sent and received. No credit or debit card details are recorded or retained. Members names and addresses are supplied to the LAA magazine publishers for the distribution of Light Aviation magazine only. Stuts receive details of new members with prior consent when they join up. b) Engineering Data. Links from the aircraft ownership database to the member database include correspondence sent and received; lists of permit revalidation dates and related information, categorised both by aircraft type and aircraft registration. Permit issue and revalidation applications, modification and repair applications are held both electronically and as hard copy in a locked, secure archive. These typically include member name and address data and may also record pilot licence number. There is a legal requirement to hold aircraft files for future scrutiny by organisations such as CAA and AAIB. Engineering admin also process debit and credit card information for fees and transactions. No debit or credit card details are recorded or retained. c) Transactional Data. Held electronically and in some cases as hard copy. Records of membership fees paid, permit revalidation payments, modification and repair fees, training course fees and merchandise sales. Records of sales transactions are held for one year in case of queries and also for the purposes of audit. No debit or credit card details are recorded or retained. Magazine advertising transactions held include name, address, payment levels and future commitments. Rally advertising and stand space transactions are logged by the Office Manager and contracted accountant. Other charges and transactions are controlled by contracted accountant via Sage accounting software. d) Inspector Records. Information held by the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection on LAA Inspectors includes: name, address, age, qualifications, contact numbers and e-mail addresses, inspection approval categories, reports on reviews and competency assessments. Held both electronically and as filed hard copy. e) NPPL Data. Information is processed on behalf of CAA for the National Private Pilot Licence scheme. Name, address, contact numbers and e-mails, age. Payments for the LAA are made either online or virtually. No debit or credit card details are recorded or retained. f) Employee Information. Name, address, contact numbers and e-mails, age, bank details, tax and salary information, as well as working records, for members of staff, contractors and some volunteers. Accessible only to senior personnel; CEO, Office Manager, Accountant and Chief Technical Officer. Terms of staff member access to own records specified in Staff Handbook. It is noted too that every staff member and Board member holds personal information which comes under the jurisdiction of the GDPR in the form of e-mails, applications and transactional records. All staff and Board members are reminded that all correspondence and address details held remain confidential, and a Data Handling Code of Conduct, including advice on computer security, will be followed. All e-mails issued should contain a standard confidentiality notice. In addition to information held at LAA HQ, LAA Member Clubs and Struts will also hold information such as member data which will require GDPR compliance. The LAA will brief these organisations accordingly on a regular basis, giving advice on how they can comply in their own right. 4. OVERSIGHT The GDPR requires that public authorities and large-scale data processing organisations designate a Data Protection Officer to take responsibility for data protection compliance. The size and structure of our organisation does not justify a dedicated post, therefore a GDPR steering team led by the CEO will provide this oversight. The CEO, Office Manager, Chief Technical Officer and Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection will meet at least quarterly to identify areas that could cause compliance problems under the GDPR and will report regularly to the Board. 5. PRIVACY All members, by completing their application and thereby entering into a contractual relationship for the LAA to provide membership services, have effectively agreed to their use of their name and address, exclusively by the LAA, to ensure they receive benefits including Light Aviation magazine. We fulfil the terms of the GDPR in having a lawful basis for processing this data (see 6), which will be held on our database for the duration of their membership. In the case of lapsed membership, the data is held for a further five years to allow lapsed members to more easily rejoin. Deceased members’ records are removed after two months, with the exception of LAA Inspectors, as their records are regarded as a part of an inspected aircraft’s history. Engineering and aircraft-related data linked to members is retained (see 3b), as we have a requirement to hold records linked to aircraft to meet the requirements of organisations such as the CAA and AAIB. Each form requiring Member Information input will henceforth carry the line; “Data privacy: personal data submitted on this application form may be stored electronically but will only be used in relation to the application (and to support the safety of any aircraft to which it relates)*. Statutory obligations excepting, personal data will not be passed on to third parties without your permission. The full LAA data protection policy can be found on our website at www.laa.uk.com ” *this section for engineering forms only. 6. INDIVIDUALS' RIGHTS The GDPR includes the following rights for individuals: the right to be informed; the right of access; the right to rectification; the right to erasure; the right to restrict processing; the right to data portability; the right to object; and the right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling. We are confident that current procedures fulfil the GDPR and we do not operate any data profiling processes. We will regularly review our procedures to ensure they cover areas such as the deletion of personal data and will provide a member with the data we hold on them, if requested, in electronic format. The CEO will make any final decisions about deletion or release of information. 7. SUBJECT ACCESS REQUESTS We acknowledge that individuals have a right to seek access to information held on LAA databases or if they think there is a problem with the way we are handling their data. We will comply with any such request within the statutory one month period. However, we can refuse or charge for requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive. Individuals will have the right to have their personnel data deleted where they believe it is being held without a practical or lawful basis. If we refuse a request, we must tell the individual why and that they have the right to complain to the ICO and to seek a judicial remedy. We must do this, at the latest, within one month. 8. CHILDREN There is a requirement to put systems in place to verify individuals’ ages and to obtain parental or guardian consent for any data processing activity. This is unlikely to directly affect the Light Aircraft Association Limited, but it may be pertinent if Struts hold information on individuals under the age of 13. A briefing on these requirements will be forwarded to LAA Struts as part of their briefing process. 9. DATA PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (DPIA) LAA systems fulfil the GDPR recommended ‘privacy by design’ approach. ‘Data Protection Impact Assessments’ will be carried out if a new technology is being deployed; or if there is processing on a large scale of the special categories of data held. While this is unlikely to directly affect the LAA, we will work with our IT contractors to ensure that awareness of this is included in any future development programmes. 10. BREACHES OF DATA Should we become aware of any personal data breach, we will notify members as rapidly as is feasibly possible, notifying the Information Commissioner’s Office if a breach is likely to result in discrimination, damage to reputation, financial loss, loss of confidentiality or any other significant economic or social disadvantage to those concerned. March 2025

< Back LAA's Response to Electronic Conspicuity Mandate 2 Oct 2026 Please find below LAA's response as per above. LAA EC Response .pdf Download PDF • 62KB Next Previous