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< Back LAA Alert A-02-2026 - MCR-01 Tailplane Mounting Corrosion 23 Jul 2026 Alert A-02-2026 - MCR-01 Corrosion of Aluminium Alloy Wing and Tailplane Attachment Brackets This Alert has been issued following the discovery of significant corrosion affecting the tailplane attachment brackets on an MCR-01 aircraft. Owners should mitigate the risk by rigorous inspections and taking suitable preventative measures. In addition to the existing requirement for periodic wing removal and inspection, we strongly recommend that the tailplane is also removed at the similar intervals for clearer view of the attachments. Owners of MCR-01 aircraft are strongly advised to include this advice in their aircraft’s maintenance schedules. Please refer to the Alert A-02-2026 HERE or below for full details and recommended checks. A-02-2026 - MCR-01 Tailplane Mounting Corrosion .pdf Download PDF • 319KB Next Previous

< Back Employment Opportunity - Advertising, Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager 30 Nov 2023 The LAA are hiring! Advertising Sales, Marketing and Social Media Manager The Light Aircraft Association supports its members build, maintain, fly and enjoy light aircraft. We have over 7000 members and look after over 4000 aircraft across the UK. We are looking someone to take control of our advertising, sales, marketing and social media. This is a fantastic opportunity for the right person to help define, implement and then deliver the strategy to transform the way the LAA communicates with its 7000-plus members. What you will do:- Work with our advertising partners to ensure they get the best ROI for their advertising spend in our magazine – Light Aviation Work with the Editor to ensure all advertising space is filled Work with the CEO ang HQ team to develop and implement a multichannel communications strategy Grow and manage the LAA’s social media presence What we offer: The chance to make a difference – We are a small team, we are all passionate about aviation and everyone counts! Develop your skills The opportunity to get flying Hybrid working Paid holidays This role would ideally suit someone with a Degree in Business/Business Management with an interest in Sales and Marketing Next Previous

< Back Mandatory Technical Directive issued for Sting S4 29 Sept 2023 LAA has been working with TL StingUK to correct an issue found during the flight testing of the factory-built version of the aircraft. It was found that the type would consistently drop the starboard wing more than the permitted maximum during a wings-level stall. LAA Mandatory Technical Directive MTD-01-2023 has been issued that requires the installation of a stall strip on the starboard wing and two stall strips on the port wing, along with restricting the elevator travel, in accodance with TL StingUK service bulletins 0002 and 0003, before further flight. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Neil Oakman 22 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome Neil Oakman as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Neil’s interest in aviation began during his early years living near the former RAF Sawbridgeworth airfield. Each summer, he would cycle to the edge of the old perimeter track to watch Piper Pawnee crop-spraying aircraft take off and land, sparking a lifelong enthusiasm for flight. After leaving school, Neil studied engineering and began working at local airfields, gaining hands-on experience with a variety of vintage aircraft ranging from Piper Cubs to the Sea Hurricane. This provided a strong foundation in both traditional aircraft construction and maintenance practices. He later pursued a career as a commercial pilot. Further details of his flying background can be found on his coaching profile on the LAA website. Throughout his aviation career, Neil has maintained his own aircraft as well as those of colleagues. This has given him a broad practical knowledge of types such as the De Havilland Chipmunk and the Scottish Aviation Bulldog, along with experience in maintaining aircraft constructed from metal, wood, and fabric. While his exposure to carbon and composite structures is limited at present, he is keen to expand his skills in this area as it represents a growing sector within the sport aviation community. As an LAA Inspector, Neil is committed to supporting aircraft owners by providing practical advice and guidance to help ensure their aircraft are operated and maintained to the high standards of safety, airworthiness, and reliability required by the LAA. Next Previous

< Back Remembering Mike Whittaker 1 Sept 2026 We are sad to announce the death, on 26th August, of Mike Whittaker, after a fall. Mike was the designer of the MW range of microlights and light aircraft that were very popular among amateur builders in the 1990s. A hugely talented, but charmingly modest man, Mike's designs enabled many LAA members to build their own aircraft at home on a small budget. Doing so inducted builders into the unique camaraderie of the active MW type club, of which Mike was the father-figure. An aeronautical engineer by profession, Mike was a great believer in the idea that even a low cost aeroplane should be properly engineered and its safety carefully substantiated. Our condolences to Mike's wife, Brenda, daughters Ellie and Lyndsay. Next Previous

Avgas UL91 & UL94 UL91 has been supplied at many airfields for a number of years. UL94 (similar to UL91 but with a slightly higher octane rating) is now becoming available. These fuels are suitable, and approved, for a wide range of engines types used in LAA aircraft. With 100LL being phased out over the coming years, now is an ideal time to see if your engine is compatible and help do your bit for the environment. The LAA Airworthiness Approval Note (AAN) for use of UL91 & UL94 in appropriate LAA aircraft can be found here . It contains a list of the most popular types of engines for which the fuel is suitable. The EASA document pertaining to use of UL91 in non LAA types is available here.

< Back New LAA Inspector - Andrew Williams 31 Mar 2025 We are pleased to welcome Andrew Williams as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Andrew has been involved with aircraft maintenance for approximately 36 years. Types he has worked on include Rolls-Royce Dart and Pratt & Whitney PT6-powered passenger and freighter aircraft, followed by working on short-to-medium range jet aircraft. For the last 10 years, Andrew has been involved with general aviation single and twin-engined aircraft, carrying out maintenance and certification. He holds a CAA approval to perform Airworthiness Reviews in order to issue Airworthiness Review Certificates. His qualifications include: CAA Part 66 Licence, inc. Full Group 3 and a BCAR Sec L Licence. In the LAA ‘world,’ Andrew has a share in a Jodel 1050. Congratulations Andrew. Welcome to the team! Next Previous

< Back LAA Training Day 30 Nov 2024 LAA Staff Training Day so LAA HQ will be closed. Next Previous

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< 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 New Technical Leaflet - Lifed Items 13 Aug 2026 There are usually a number of components on an aircraft where the manufacturer (of the airframe, engine, propeller or other equipment) recommends that they be overhauled/replaced on a regular calendar basis (because they deteriorate through ageing) or a flying hour basis (because they wear out through use), or both. In some cases, these recommendations must be adhered to, for instance where they have been mandated by a Mandatory Permit Directive, or Airworthiness Directive for a type that previously held a Certificate of Airworthiness, or incorporated in an Aircraft Maintenance Programme that has been specified by the LAA. In other cases, these recommendations are not mandatory and the owner has discretion to vary them. As a new development instigated in 2026, to help members and Inspectors to meet their ‘duty of care’ obligations, for safety and, not least, peace of mind, the LAA now advise that: When any component is known to have a recommended limited life, any extension of the life beyond that recommended by the manufacturer is listed down. Against each one, a conscious decision should be made whether or not to continue the part in service or not. In each case, where the decision is to continue the part in service, the justification, mitigation or alternative means of compliance should be recorded. The guidance in this new Technical Leaflet is aimed at helping owners to make and properly record these maintenance decisions, including: How to identify lifed items When a component life is considered mandatory If a life is not mandatory, how to decide an alternative course of action and record the decision not to follow the recommended life The aim is for owners to make considered decisions on such parts, and have a list that can be regularly reviewed by them and their Inspector. To coincide with the launch of this Technical Leaflet and its new advice, LAA have introduced a format for a document ‘ Lifed Item Tracking Supplement Form ’, available to download from the LAA website, that can be used to record the list of lifed items on an aircraft, any deviations that the owner has elected to make from the manufacturer’s recommendations, and the justifications for each case. The LAA Generic Maintenance Schedule LAA/GMS/12/150 has also been updated to include a recommended format that can be used to record the relevant information for aircraft being maintained on customised versions of the GMS. Example entries are given in Appendix 1 of the Technical Leaflet. These documents are linked below. Whichever means of recording is used, this is intended to remain as part of the aircraft’s technical records, along with the logbooks and worksheets etc. and be passed on to a new owner should the aircraft be sold. It’s recommended that the seller bring the list to the buyer’s attention and prevail upon the buyer to review the content and amend as they see fit as part of their transition into taking responsibility for the aircraft’s continued airworthiness. We hope this new Technical Leaflet and associated documents will help discussions between Owners and Inspectors at each Airworthiness Review regarding lifed items. TL 2.34 Lifed Items .pdf Download PDF • 212KB LAA-LI - Lifed Item Tracking Supplement Form - Iss 1 .docx Download DOCX • 79KB GMS-12-150 Issue 3 .doc Download DOC • 263KB Next Previous

Flight Testing Aircraft The following current flight test schedules are available for printing. These schedules are subject to change at any time and without notice. Ensure that the current flight test schedule is used otherwise it may not be accepted. For this reason it is not advisable to save these document on your computer. Flight Testing Forms & Schedules Other useful documentation is as follows: TL 1.19 Initial Testing Flying Pilot Briefing for First Flight TL 2.00 Revalidating a Permit to Fly CAP 1038 CAA Check Flight Handbook TL 3.19 Auto-Pilot Flight Test Notes TL 3.22 Flight Test Reports TL 3.23 Constant Speed Prop Set-Up TL 3.25 General notes and limitations on test flights Airpseed Indicator Calibration Climb-Performance Plotter FAA Flight Testing Handbook