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  • Hirth 2 Stroke | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Hirth 2 Stroke Covering Letter to Owners Fuel System Inspection Checklist

  • Operating & Maintaining Aircraft | Light Aircraft Assoc

    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

  • Strut Governance Documents | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Strut Governance Documents Strut Governance Documents Electronic versions of the Strut Event Management Procedures can be found below. Click each document to access it online. Updated April 2019 Member Club Regulations The Member Club Regulations describe the manner in which an LAA Member Club should form, govern its affairs and conduct its activities. Strut Event Management Procedure Procedures for Strut events (fly-ins etc..) Annex A Normal and Prohibited Club Activities Annex B Summary Insurance Certificate for Member Clubs of the LAA Annex C LAA Member Club - Event Notification Annex D LAA Club Event Risk Assessment (air side/ground activities) Annex E Event Safety Review and Operations Summary Annex F Third Party Passenger Flying at LAA Member Club Events Annex G Incident Checklist / Incident Plan Appendix 1 TPPF Pilot and Aircraft Checklist Appendix 2 Indemnity Agreement Appendix 3 Information for those Attending an LAA Member Club Flying Event Model Club Constitution A model constitution for member clubs

  • Alert A-03-2026 - Loose Propeller Bolts - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back Alert A-03-2026 - Loose Propeller Bolts - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers 30 Jul 2026 Alert A-03-2026 - Loose Propeller Bolts - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers This Alert has been issued to raise awareness of the potential for a serious safety issue following several recent reports of propeller retaining bolts becoming loose on aircraft fitted with one-piece wooden propellers. In some cases, propellers have been damaged and, most seriously, accidents have either occurred or been narrowly averted. Because of the recent bout of extreme heatwaves, owners of aircraft operating under an LAA Permit to Fly with a one-piece wooden propeller are strongly recommended to check that their propeller retaining bolts are correctly torqued as a matter of urgency, whether or not the aircraft is due a scheduled check. Please refer to the Alert Alert A-03-2026 HERE or below for full details and recommended checks. 20260730 - A-03-2026 - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers .pdf Download PDF • 394KB Next Previous

  • Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Supermarine Spitfire mk26 and mk26a | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Supermarine Spitfire mk26 and mk26a 16 Feb 2024 It has been found that there is potential for the fin of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk26 and 26B to be misaligned during build, due to a build-up of tolerances in the fin and its attachment, possibly leading to a mis-rigging of the rudder and failure to achieve the desired range of rudder travel. This could possibly result in degraded controllability in flight and on take-off and landing. In the interests of safety MTD 01-2024 calls for mandatory checks to be made on the fin alignment and rudder range of movement. Next Previous

  • Designing Aircraft | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Over the years this has led to several commercially successful kitplanes (Europa, Streak Shadow, Sherwood Ranger), as well as designs that have been released for plans-building (Flitzer, Isaacs Fury, FRED) and a whole range of fascinating on-off personal aircraft – the Acro Advanced, Bonsall Mustang, Mickleburgh Sparrow to name just a few. There will always be LAA’ers keen on the ‘retro’ look, but with ever-increasing fuel costs we foresee a greater emphasis in future on aircraft exploring higher efficiency, alternative powerplants (electric?) and renewable materials. High hangarage fees mean that aircraft enthusiasts are more than ever interested in folding or de-riggable aircraft that can be kept at home. Using the information provided by clicking the links below, the LAA hopes to stimulate interest in light aircraft design, help potential designers through the process and encourage the development of high quality designs. With the decline in UK manufacturing over the recent decades, it seems more than ever important to keep alive a thread of creativity and enthusiasm for design and development. For some, the ability to bring a personal design from first concept to a flying prototype provides the ultimate source of satisfaction within the LAA scene. Designing Aircraft Since its formation in 1948, one of the stated aims of the LAA has been to encourage the designing and building of new types of light aircraft. For our own purposes, we in LAA Engineering have been producing a series of Excel spreadsheets to use as tools in the verification of calculations in the many aircraft design submissions we deal with. The spreadsheets have been designed to carry out the various calculations that are necessary during the design of light aircraft. Some of them have been written against specific paragraphs in the design code CS-VLA, whereas others, for example, cover areas related to the development of aircraft undergoing flight testing. In addition, simple spreadsheets for straightforward mathematical calculations have been written. It is for information and educational purposes that these spreadsheets are now available to LAA members on the LAA web site. Use the buttons below for more information on each design stage: Preliminary Design Detail Design Certification/Approval

  • Inspector Zone | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Inspector Zone The Inspector Zone is designed for use by LAA Inspectors (though is available to all) and is intended to provide a focal point for LAA Inspectors to source important airworthiness and other useful information. LAA Inspector Updates are provided via email. Inspectors should check the contact information shown in the Inspector Map held on this website, and let the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection (Chief Inspector) know of any changes needed. Inspectors are encouraged to submit items of news they think might be suitable for inclusion in future Inspector Updates to the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection (Chief Inspector) , Lucy Wootton at [email protected] . This email address may also be used by Inspectors with queries directly relating to their role as an LAA Inspector. AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION SPARS (COMING SOON...) INSPECTOR APPROVAL INFORMATION BECOME AN INSPECTOR FIND AN INSPECTOR INSPECTOR TRAINING SEMINARS

  • MTD-02-2026 Issue 1 Published - Cracking in E-Props Durandal HexMc® Propeller Hubs | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back MTD-02-2026 Issue 1 Published - Cracking in E-Props Durandal HexMc® Propeller Hubs 26 Jun 2026 MTD-02-2026 - Cracking in E-Props Durandal HexMc® Propeller Hubs This MTD is applicable to all aircraft operating under an LAA Permit to Fly fitted with an E-Props Durandal 3-blade propeller hub. A safety concern has been identified with certain HexMc® hubs where cracks may develop near the blade bolt areas, likely linked to over-tightening and possible manufacturing issues in specific production batches. Any HexMc® hub found to be cracked must be replaced with a serviceable, uncracked hub or the propeller replaced with an alternative propeller approved for that aircraft. Replacement hubs may be available from E-Props. Owners of cracked hubs are advised to contact E-Props directly before purchasing replacements. Within 10 flying hours or by the next Airworthiness Review, whichever is sooner, it must be determined whether the propeller hub is of an affected type and an initial inspection carried out by an LAA Inspector. If affected, ongoing inspections are required annually or every 50 flight hours. Please refer to the below Mandatory Technical Directive for full details, compliance times, and certification requirements. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. 20260625 - MTD-02-2026 Cracking in E-Props Propeller Hubs .pdf Download PDF • 459KB Next Previous

  • LAA appoints new CEO | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back LAA appoints new CEO 22 Feb 2023 “This is my dream role and I can’t wait to get started!” Simon Tilling has been appointed as the new CEO of the Light Aircraft Association. He will start in his new role in mid-April. Simon brings to the Association a wealth of leadership, general management and customer service experience gained in the technology sector including ‘blue chip’ brands such as Dell and Sony, together with a passion for sport and recreational aviation. Simon is an experienced pilot who has owned various LAA types, including one of the UK’s oldest Taylorcraft Auster aircraft. He’s also a former British Air Racing champion and was from 2020 to 2022 the chairman of the Royal Aero Club ‘3Rs’ committee for races, records and rallies, during which time he regenerated the appeal of air racing to new participants. Eryl Smith, Chairman of the LAA said “I am delighted to announce Simon’s appointment as CEO of the LAA and look forward to working with him to further improve the performance and standing of the Association on behalf of our members.” Next Previous

  • MTD-01-2025 ISSUE 2 published - Zenair Tailplane Brackets | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back MTD-01-2025 ISSUE 2 published - Zenair Tailplane Brackets 28 Aug 2025 MTD-01-2025 - 'Inspection of horizontal stabiliser (tailplane) attachment brackets and associated hardware for cracks, looseness and other forms of distress' for Zenair CH601, CH650, CH701, CH750 and variants of these four models has been upissued to Issue 2. This is in order to correct an error in the 'Effective Date' of this MTD. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. A number of cases have been found whereby the structural integrity of the horizontal stabiliser mountings on the Zenair types identified above have been compromised by one or more of the following: cracking of the attachment brackets oversize holes loose rivets distorted and chafed brackets. These problems could occur due to a number of factors including poor build quality, a build-up of tolerances in the positioning or dimensions of the brackets, improper assembly, rough treatment or in-flight vibration. Failure of a tailplane attachment could result in degraded controllability in flight or loss of control. Special inspections of this area have been recommended by Zenair since January 2017, in their document ‘Mandatory Action. Jan. 2017 – Inspection of Horizontal Stabilizer tail attachment brackets’. This Mandatory Technical Directive mandates this safety action for aircraft operating on LAA Permits to Fly. 20250828 - MTD-01-2025 - Zenair Tailplane Brackets - Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 183KB Next Previous

  • New LAA Inspector - Malcolm Talbot | Light Aircraft Assoc

    < Back New LAA Inspector - Malcolm Talbot 14 Jul 2025 We are pleased to welcome Malcolm Talbot as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Malcolm holds a BSc(Hons) with the Open University in Maths, Technology and Engineering. He has held a PPL since 2010 and been a Flight Instructor FI since 2019, (having passed the CPL theory exams),. He is currently instructing for Moray Flying Club and Highland Aviation, and recently become a ground examiner. Malcolm built and flies a Eurofox, which first flew in 2013. He thoroughly enjoyed the build process. Next Previous

  • Engineering | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Engineering INFO LIBRARY CONTINUING AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION INSPECTOR ZONE FLIGHT TESTING AIRCRA FT NIGHT/ IFR REVALIDATING A PERMIT TO FLY TECHNICAL LEAFLETS OPERATING & MAINTAINING BUILDING AIRCRAFT MODIFYING & REPAIRING AIRCRAFT FIND AN INSPECTOR TADS ENGINEERING FEES DESIGNING AIRCRAFT BUYING AIRCRAFT

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