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< Back New LAA Inspector - Robin Smith 2 Apr 2026 Robin enjoys every aspect of light aircraft whether it be flying or maintenance. Robin spent 15 years with REME attached to the Army Air Corps, was Aircraft Engineering Warrant Officer. He trained and experienced on helicopters, Skeeter, Bell 47 (Sioux), Alouette, Scout and Gazelle including their respective power units. He trained and experienced on fixed wing Auster 9 and Beaver including respective power units. He saw active service in Aden and Northern Ireland. He also flew in his early days as an observer. Robin has a UK PPL; he is a CRI and Fl(A). He currently instructs at Fowlmere with the British Aviation Academy and at Flying Made Easy at Old Buckenham airfield. He has aerobatic and aerobatic instructor rating and night rating. Differences training includes tailwheel and constant speed propellors. Robin has flown Robin HR200, Maule, Grob 115D, Cessna 140, Cessna 152, F24 Argus and PA28. He has owned a Robin HR200 a Maule MXT7 180A, Auster 6 and he currently owns a Grob115A C1 Aero which is fully aerobatic. He just loves turning himself upside down! He has worked with Modern Air Ltd at Fowlmere airfield doing annuals, inspections and repairs to Cessna 140, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Cessna 177 Cardinal, Argus, Twin Cessna 310 and Extra aircraft. Currently he works with Touchdown Engineering at Old Buckenham on average some 2 days per week. He is also Safety Manager at Fowlmere and EASA approved. Robin has a small company Beagle Flight Consultancy Ltd which can provide several services which include Flight instruction via DTO/ATO, 2-year revalidations. Prebuy surveys, aircraft transport by road in UK and Europe. Import and export handling of light aircraft, inclusive of dismantle, containerisation, shipping, customs docus and assembly. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Gary Priestley 4 Dec 2025 We are pleased to welcome Gary Priestley as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston. Gary started at BAe Filton as an Aeronautical Engineering Apprentice in 1978. His first day out of the training bay was spent working on the test and development Concorde 002. During his apprenticeship he worked on the VC10's air-to-air refuelling conversion and on test and development for Airbus on the fly-by-wire BAC 1-11. After his apprenticeship he became an Inspector on the F1-11s, with his main role involving pre- and post-inspection of the Cold Soak, where the aircraft were frozen and bent to re-life them. He transferred to Warton for the Al-Yamama project, working on Tornado ADVs and IDS aircraft in Saudi Arabia. Gary returned in 1990 and was recruited as a technical instructor at British Aerospace Filton, teaching the following: Concorde pilots and flight engineers, utilising the simulator to help them pass their ground school type rating. Aircraft fitters working toward their B2 and B1 licences, as well as type courses on the A300 B4 and A300-600, where the aircraft were being converted to freighters. The BAC 1-11 refresher course for the Sultan of Oman Air Force pilots. Type rating for British Airways Concorde engineers at Heathrow. Apprentices studying for their City and Guilds. Night-school City and Guilds for non-skilled fitters. While carrying out this training, he repaired a Robin HR 200 with the help of the apprentices and studied for his Commercial and subsequently his Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. Gary left BAe in 1999 to fly the BAe 146 for CityJet in Dublin, before being asked, through CityJet, if he would like to transfer to British Midland to fly the BAe 146 for Lufthansa. A few years later he was made redundant, gained his Helicopter Commercial Pilot’s Licence, but was then asked to join Flightline on the BAe 146, flying oil-rig workers from Aberdeen to Scatsta and later working out of Manchester for British Airways. An opportunity arose to fly with Titan Airways in Stansted, flying ad-hoc standby for British Airways, easyJet, and others. Several years later he completed a type-rating course on the Boeing 737 to fly from Exeter. He took voluntary redundancy in 2013. By chance, after buying a prestigious car from someone who owned an aircraft at Middlezoy, Gary made the connection that brought him into affiliation with Middlezoy Aerodrome, where he now has a share in Louis, the Taylorcraft type D, and is 50% owner of the Isaac Fury. Next Previous

< Back Carbon Monoxide in Piston Engine Aircraft Consultation 22 Feb 2024 In recent years, the CAA has been actively engaged in raising pilot awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) in general aviation (GA) and has undertaken multiple initiatives to promote prevention and detection measures to mitigate the risk. We have now launched a public consultation seeking stakeholder views on: the barriers pilots face in obtaining an active CO detector, the role that maintenance plays in combatting CO, the importance of protecting passengers from CO, and whether active CO detectors ought to be mandatory for some operations. The consultation closes on 20 March 2024. We invite stakeholders to give us your views . Next Previous

Light Aviation Magazine 2013 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2013 January 2013 April 2013 July 2013 October 2013 February 2013 May 2013 August 2013 November 2013 March 2013 June 2013 September 2013 December 2013

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

< Back Standard Modification for fresh air rotary ventilators added for Europa types 18 Oct 2023 A new Standard Modification (SM12871) has been uploaded to the website for Europa types. This covers the installation of rotary air vents in the forward cockpit to aid ventilation. Standard Modifications are used to enable other owners to install a modification on a given type, generally by following the instructions in the Standard Modification leaflet, having their inspector check and sign it off and letting LAA Engineering know that it's been installed. Further information on the Standard Modification process can be found in TL 3.06 Standard Modification leaflets can be found by following Engineering - Info Library - Engineering - Standard Modifictations. Technical leaflets can be found by following Engineering - Info Library - Engineering - Technical Leaflets. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Keith Troughton 4 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome Keith Troughton as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. With an active aviation interest from a very young age, he has been involved in certified, homebuilt, and microlight aircraft for over 40 years. He is currently operating within a C.A.O. General Aviation Facility as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer (L.A.E.). He is a CAA-approved maintenance manager within an approved Aircraft Maintenance Facility, with access to most of the necessary tooling for standard aircraft maintenance support, including facilities to weigh aircraft, if required. Next Previous

< Back Van's Aircraft laser-cut parts - update 20 Oct 2023 Since our mention of this issue in the August edition of Light Aviation , Van’s Aircraft have been toiling away analysing and testing various structural elements to establish the effect that the laser cutting of parts has had on their strength and fatigue life. Detailed updates can be found on their website, but understandably UK builders and operators are seeking clarity on what the endgame will be on this issue. As the issue generally affects potential fatigue life, there is no immediate need to take action. In discussion with Rian Johnson, Van’s President and Chief Engineer, he tells us that they’re working on service information for the fleet that they expect to be published by the end of the year. Having worked closely with Van’s over many years, our expectation is that we will endorse their position. Next Previous

< Back MTD-03-2025 - Marquart Charger Aileron Slave Strut 25 Jul 2025 LAA MTD-03-2025 - Marquart Charger Aileron Slave Strut The starboard aileron slave strut on Marquart Charger G-BHBT failed at the AN490 threaded fitting welded into the bottom end. A large proportion of the cross-section was cracked due to fatigue prior to final failure. The root cause of the fatigue cracking was probably flutter. Due to the difficulty of reliably inspecting for fatigue cracking at the base of threads, it has been decided to withdraw this strut design from the UK fleet. MTD-03-2025 can be found HERE and is found below. MTD-03-2025 - Marquart Charger Aileron Slave Strut .pdf Download PDF • 194KB Next Previous

< Back Grass Roots Fly-In Slots and Tickets now available! 26 Jul 2023 Not long to go now!! Details on slot bookings, entrance tickets, camping, exhibitor information, trophies and awards, opening times, other attractions etc are now available Fly-in details can be found here . Next Previous

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

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mike Wigg 22 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome Mike Wigg as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. With a deep passion for vintage aeroplanes, Mike strives to bring joy to all enthusiasts by keeping these remarkable vintage aircraft flying. With extensive engineering experience from both military and civilian sectors, he is dedicated to supporting owners in maintaining their beloved planes. Based near Duxford in Cambridgeshire, Mike travels across the UK and beyond to ensure these classic aeroplanes remain airworthy. If you're an owner in need of maintenance, repair, or inspection, please don't hesitate to reach out! Next Previous