Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association,
the heart of a community that lives and breathes recreational aviation in all its forms!
With over 60 years of history, no other UK association has the depth of knowledge and experience in looking after our sport and such a passion for light aircraft. From lowly beginnings we have built an impressive association that today boast around 8,000 members and helps look after the aviation interests of some 2,500 aircraft and a further ~1,500 aircraft build projects. We’ve built an enviable reputation for determination and fairness within the corridors of power in the UK and Europe and are one of the principle representative groups providing balanced consultative input on matters such as airspace, planning and safety regulation.
At our core is the amateur build aircraft movement and the comprehensive engineering facilities that support the Permit to Fly airworthiness system. A full time staff of qualified engineers and a countrywide network of Inspectors help make owning and flying your own aircraft both possible and affordable. Nowhere will you find a comparative level of expertise, indeed a number of European civil aviation authorities base the suitability of any new amateur build design on whether it meets with LAA’s approval processes.
But we are far more than an engineering resource; our renowned Pilot Coaching Scheme offers a wide range of services from license re-validation, differences training, farm strip flying to proficiency diplomas and more. All help improve your competence and confidence, not only better fulfilling your flying ambitions, but also making you a safer pilot.
Our award-winning full-colour monthly magazine, Light Aviation is free to all members and is packed with a wealth of technical and flying information, first-hand reports of members’ flying adventures and aircraft builds, in depth flight tests and so much more – it’s real cover to cover reading every month!
The future of recreational aviation relies on people of all ages and from all walks of society and the charitable LAA Education Trust devotes its activities to helping educate and involve, nurturing ambition in tomorrow’s pilots and enthusiasts. Young Aviators events give youngsters an opportunity to experience the joys of flight, Scout camps help teach basic navigational skills, and our association with schools which run Build a Plane projects provide their students with hands-on experience of actually building a full-size flying aircraft. The Trust also organises courses in a wide range of subjects, from working with aluminium, wood, composites and fabric to avionics and aircraft maintenance, helping provide potential builders and owners with the necessary confidence and competence.
Throughout the flying season social branches of the LAA arrange fly-ins and aviation events around the country, culminating in our annual three-day LAA Rally at Sywell in September. Fly in or drive, come for one day or three, the LAA Rally is a must for everyone with a passion for light aircraft. As a member you will have the privilege to wander around the aircraft parks, to gaze at the incredible assortment of aircraft on show and chat with owners and builders alike about every aspect of LAA life, make new friends and meet old ones as you soak up the atmosphere.
Be part of what’s happening and join the LAA today; it will be the best step you ever take not just to fulfill your hopes and aspirations in this wonderful sport of recreational aviation, but also to help retain the freedoms we enjoy for future generations.