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< Back New Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection 3 Dec 2024 The LAA is very pleased to announce that Lucy Wootton has been appointed as the new Head of Continuing Airworthiness and Inspection. LAA CEO Simon Tilling continues: “We have taken the opportunity to bring together the inspection and airworthiness teams under one leader. Currently Continuing Airworthiness and our nationwide team of Inspectors are interdependent functions, bringing them together allows for closer co-operation and the alignment of objectives and actions. This new, combined team has the overall objective of ensuring and maintaining the safety and airworthiness of the LAA fleet of more than 2,700 aircraft. It’s responsibilities will include: Airworthiness audits (ACAMs) Permit to Fly Revalidation Process & PFRCs Tracking, analysis, and management of airworthiness issues and identification of solutions Promulgation of continuing airworthiness Information (TADS, Alerts, TSBs, MTDs, Light Aviation Magazine, website) External Liaison (AAIB, CAA, BGA, BMAA) Inspector Induction Support Training, development, and record keeping Communication Performance management Authorisations Contribution to processes and procedures (EPM, Exposition, SPARS, TLs etc) Lucy joined the LAA in August 2022 as Chief Inspector. She has a first-class Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering, with Honours, from Loughborough University, having spent five years there, including a year’s placement at Rolls-Royce in Failure Investigation, for which she achieved a Diploma in Industrial Studies. Lucy has also been a British Gliding Association Inspector for more than 10 years, as well as an ARC Signatory. Lucy holds a PPL(A) for both single-engine piston aircraft and touring motor gliders, with a night rating, instrument rating(restricted) and sailplane towing rating. Prior to joining the LAA, Lucy worked as an Aircraft Structural Repair Design Engineer for a major aeronautical engineering organisation. Since joining the LAA as Chief Inspector, Lucy has been instrumental in the continuing development of the LAA Inspectorate, who are recognised for their knowledge and skills and professionalism across the aviation industry." Next Previous

Light Aviation Magazine 2021 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2021 January 2021 April 2021 July 2021 October 2021 February 2021 May 2021 August 2021 November 2021 March 2021 June 2021 September 2021 December 2021

< Back Aerobatics Course bursary for LAA Members!!! 6 Jun 2025 These bursaries are available thanks to the generosity of LAA member John Rowlinson and his company PTS. You must be an LAA member to apply. Please send an email with the subject line Aerobatics and we will get back to you. Next Previous

Inspector Training Seminars In 2018, the ‘Inspector Training Seminar’ (ITS) scheme was introduced. This means that, in order to continue operating as an Inspector, every Inspector must attend an ITS in the previous four years, as assessed on 31st March each year, as part of their recurrent training. All Inspector Training Seminars for spring 2025 have now been completed, there will be more Seminars planned for Autumn and Winter. Each Inspector Training Seminar is free-of-charge and includes a complimentary lunch. The day runs from 0930 to 1630. Any Inspector is welcome to book onto a seminar, effectively resetting their ITS attendance and therefore, recurrent training, early; but priority will be given to those Inspectors due for review by 31st March 2026. Please contact LAA Engineering for further details of exact venues and booking details.

Certification & Approval Having worked out a promising-looking layout, initial three-view and performance and weight specifications, now is the stage where the hard work begins of transforming concepts to working drawings. Essential decisions have to be made about types of material to be used, the structural arrangement, exact choice of powerplant and so on. You’ll probably need to make a cockpit mock-up to check the ergonomics and control system arrangements, and maybe build a flying radio controlled model of the design to give faith in the handling characteristics. With the basic geometry laid out, stress calculations and assembly drawings come next, then drawings of individual piece parts. Keep an up-to-date tally on weights. As the drawings get more detailed you must re-evaluate whether you are going to meet your original targets in terms of weight, strength and aerodynamic cleanliness, whether you need to re-visit your original assumptions or re-design from scratch. Is there a way that the part or assembly can be made more easily, more cheaply, lighter, stronger, more fatigue or corrosion resistant ? Fewer parts and fewer joints generally means fewer problems and less weight. Can you use off the shelf parts rather than having to make them specially ? Are there other aeroplanes around that have already solved a particular problem in a clever way ? Will the aircraft be easy to inspect in service, easy to repair if it gets damaged ? Can it be broken down for transportation ? If the handling isn’t quite right when the prototype is test flown, does the design make provision for ‘tweaks’ to put it right ? Does the design include reserves of strength to cope with weight growth in service and more powerful engines, or is everything pared down to the minimum ? Downloadable Spreadsheets Technical Leaflets Design Tutorials

< Back MTD-02-2025 issued - Mission M108 Nose Leg Failures - ISSUE 2 14 Aug 2025 MTD-02-2025 - 'Nose leg failures' has been upissued to reflect the availability of alternative parts from the manufacturer. This MTD can be found HERE Three instances of nose leg failure have occurred in the past 12 months, two of which recently. This MTD mandates the regular inspection of this area until replacement parts, now available from Lambert Aircraft Engineering, are installed. Next Previous

< Back Telephones 4 Apr 2024 Please note that the LAA phone system is being updated today and currently we are unable to receive any incoming calls. We appreciate the inconvenience this may be causing but we envisage they will only be down for part of the day. Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures 10 Dec 2025 LAA Alert A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures LAA Engineering has issued Alert A-13-2025 to highlight the recent issues of SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures. Two SportCruisers have recently suffered nose landing gear collapses, resulting in propeller strikes and airframe damage. Inspections have revealed evidence of cracking and possible weld-related weakness. Owners and Inspectors should carry out frequent checks for cracks, corrosion, and deformation on the nose-leg, paying particular attention to weld points. If any abnormalities are detected, the aircraft must not be flown and LAA Engineering contacted. Please refer to the Alert here for full details and recommended checks. A-13-2025 - CZAW SportCruiser Nose-Leg Failures .pdf Download PDF • 515KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-06-2024 Issue 3 - Pietenpol Air Camper Wing Strut Internal Corrosion 18 Aug 2026 MTD-06-2024 Issue 3 – Pietenpol Air Camper Wing Strut Internal Corrosion Issue 1 of this MTD, issued in 2024, required inspection of the rear 'Jim Wills' type struts for corrosion, replacement of any corroded struts, and the drilling of a single drain hole in the end cap of each strut. MTD-06-2024 Issue 2 superseded Issue 1 and introduced revised drain hole requir ements based on feedback from the field. Aircraft fitted with Jim Wills rear wing struts must have the struts inspected for internal and external corrosion. Issue 3 is being issued to properly reflect the requirements for Air Campers using the Paul Prince metal framed fuselage option and the fact that the outboard ends of the Wills struts are non-adjustable, as well as to clarify that the rod-end’s locknut is not shown in Figure 4. For aircraft that have not already complied with Issue 1 or Issue 2 of this MTD, Issue 3 of this MTD must be embodied ‘Before next flight,’ after the publication of this MTD at Issue 3. For wooden-fuselaged aircraft that have already had their rear struts inspected and single drain holes drilled in accordance with Issue 1 of this MTD, the second drain hole and optional third borescope hole must be drilled in each rear strut and other actions carried out in accordance with Issue 2 or Issue 3 of this MTD before the end of 2027. For Paul Prince metal-fuselaged aircraft, both front and rear struts must be inspected and drain holes drilled in accordance with Issue 3 of this MTD not later than 90 days after the effective date of this MTD Issue 3. Please refer to the MTD-06-2024 Issue 3 document for full applicability, aircraft identification guidance, and compliance requirements. This MTD can be found HERE and is also available below. 20260818 - MTD-06-2024 - Pietenpol Air Camper Struts Issue 3 .pdf Download PDF • 918KB Next Previous

< Back LAA Alert A-01-2026 - Eurofox Tailplane Struts 5 Jun 2026 LAA Alert A-01-2026 - Eurofox Tailplane Struts This Alert has been issued to raise awareness of the possibility of a serious structural failure of the aircraft if the tailplane struts on Eurofox type aircraft are incorrectly assembled. In the event that the tailplane struts are found to have been mis-assembled, or the aircraft is suspected of having flown in the past with the struts mis-assembled, the aircraft should not be flown until such time as the strut attachment lugs have been confirmed to be free of cracks and the struts correctly re-positioned. If cracked lugs are suspected, consult LAA Engineering for advice about suitable NDT or other inspection of the strut attachment lugs. Re-fitting the tailplane struts is an operation that requires an inspection by an LAA inspector and signing of a PMR statement before flight. Please refer to the LAA Alert A-01-2026 HERE or below for full details and recommended checks. A-01-2026 - Eurofox Tailplane Struts .pdf Download PDF • 282KB Next Previous

Revalidating a Permit to Fly Revalidating the Permit to Fly on your aircraft involves a simple three-step process, as outlined below: START APPLICATION HERE More detailed information is available by clicking the buttons below: Step-by-Step Video Guide TL 2.00 - Permit Revalidation Frequently Asked Questions Check Flight Form, PFRC & Inspector Crib Sheet

< Back Nick Stone appointed as the LAA's Head of Airworthiness 24 Oct 2023 The LAA is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Stone as the LAA’s Head of Airworthiness. Nick brings a vast wealth of aircraft knowledge as well as a real world understanding of the need for good process and procedure. Having started his career in the Royal Air Force, Nick went on to work in the aerospace industry working in the UK with British Aerospace and Slingsby Aviation at various sites and projects, as an inspector, methods engineer and quality engineer. Nick then moved to the United States at Eastern Airlines in Miami Florida, Learjet in Wichita Kansas and Chihuahua Mexico as inspection/Quality representative of Shorts Aerospace (Bombardier Aerospace). Following a downturn in the British Aerospace industry he then took an opportunity to move into the nuclear industry working in both reprocessing and power generation. Throughout Nick's working life the one constant has been a passion for aviation. Having started as a volunteer at a local aircraft museum at 14, Nick started flying at the age of 16 in gliders and has a private pilot’s licence PPL(A). Prior to becoming an LAA inspector Nick spent many years building, rebuilding, and restoring vintage aircraft, the more unusual the better. “As an LAA inspector I understand the need to move forward and change and adapt to an ever changing but exciting world. Having run my own aircraft restoration company for the last seven years I always felt it is important to understand your customers”. LAA CEO Simon Tilling said, “Nick is a great addition to the LAA staff. I and the rest of the team are looking forward to working with him in the near future” Next Previous