Popular Flying Association
Encyclopedia
| Type | Not for profit |
| Founded | 1946, as the Ultralight Aircraft Association |
| Headquarters | Turweston Aerodrome Turweston Aerodrome Turweston Aerodrome located near the village of Turweston, on the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, is a former Royal Air Force World War II bomber training facility, now a business park and airfield.... , Brackley Brackley Brackley is a town in south Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Oxford and miles form Northampton. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the intersecting trade routes between London, Birmingham and the English Midlands and between Cambridge and Oxford... , Northants, United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
| Membership | Individuals and companies |
| Field | Aviation Aviation Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:... advocacy |
| Number of Members | 8,000 (2011) |
| Key Personnel | Patron: Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside... President: Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) Sir John Allison KCB, CBE, FRAeS, RAF |
| Website | www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk |
The Light Aircraft Association (formerly known as the Popular Flying Association) is the representative body in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for amateur aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
construction, recreational and sport flying. It oversees the construction and maintenance of homebuilt aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
, under an approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
History
The association was formed in 1946 as the Ultralight Aircraft Association and took on the name Popular Flying Association in 1949. Initially, and still primarily, an engineering organisation for approving designs for homebuilding and regulating their construction and maintenance, it is now also active in encouraging sport and recreational flying and campaigning for a regulatory regime that will provide as little restriction as possible, consistent with safety, for the construction and operation of homebuilt aircraftHomebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
and Classic and Vintage factory built aircraft that can no longer hold a full Certificate of Airworthiness. Membership in 2011 was around 8,000.
It publishes a monthly full-colour member magazine, "Light Aviation" (formally "Popular Flying") and holds its annual Rally at Sywell Aerodrome
Sywell Aerodrome
Sywell Aerodrome is the local aerodrome serving Northampton, Wellingborough and Kettering as it is situated midway between these towns. The airport is located northeast of Northampton and was originally opened in 1928 on the edge of Sywell village....
on the first weekend in September, probably the largest gathering of light aircraft outside the USA.
It has a network of Member Clubs throughout the UK, each providing a geographically centred social focus for LAA members, to which members of the public are warmly welcomed, plus a number of Type Clubs, catering to members who are constructing or operating certain aircraft types.
The Association changed its name to the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) on 1 January 2008, along with the name change to the association's monthly journal.
Process
The regime for approving amateur-built aircraft in the United Kingdom differs from that in many other countries, of which the United States is the prime example. Instead of an Experimental airworthiness category, under which an amateur may design, build and operate (and is ultimately responsible for) an aircraft 'for experimental purposes', the UK CAA is required to investigate any such aircraft's 'fitness to fly' and to issue a 'Permit to Fly' when satisfied. The LAA is approved by the CAA to make recommendations for and to revalidate such Permits. Aircraft on a LAA Permit may not be operated commercially and are at present limited to Day / VFRVfR
VfR is a German-language acronym that may appear in various contexts:*Verein für Raumschiffahrt, en:Society for Space Travel, a historical amateur rocket club in Germany...
operation. There are also nominal limits on the number of seats (four) and on maximum take-off weight (2500lbs), power (260HP) and stalling speed (70mph). The Permit is valid only in UK airspace unless by agreement with another State, which is normally obtainable for countries in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and many outside it. The Permit has to be renewed annually after the aircraft has been inspected by an inspector appointed by the LAA.
The LAA's approval also covers homebuilt microlights, autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
s, (gyroplanes), and factory built Classic and Vintage types that are no longer able to hold a full Certificate of Airworthiness, but not helicopters.
Future
The future of the homebuilt system and the Permit to Fly has received much consideration since the European Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
(EASA) became operational in 2003. EASA has a remit to impose common regulations across all European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) States where each State currently has its own system, however EASA's remit has not extended to cover non internationally certified aircraft categories, such as amateur-builts and microlights. Such aircraft, known collectively as EASA Annexe II aircraft, remain under the juristiction of and are administered by, the National Airworthiness Authority of the Sate in which they are registered. LAA is a principal member of the European Federation for Light, Experimental and Vintage Aircraft (EFLEVA), which represents the collective interests of amateur-built and Vintage aircraft associations throughout Europe.