Christmas Glad Tidings: 2,800 Aircraft Flying on LAA Permits

[SteveSlater]

Press release just issued:

Christmas Glad Tidings - 2,800 Aircraft Now Flying on Light Aircraft Association Permits to Fly.

The Light Aircraft Association reached a new milestone in the days before Christmas, recording more than 2,800 active aircraft flying on LAA Permits to Fly for the first time in the Association’s history. In addition the number of aircraft in-build with ‘project’ status stands at a total of 1,500, with a significant number of additional aircraft under restoration.

The increase in the size of the active LAA fleet, which has doubled since the year 2000, reflects both the increased popularity of affordable home-built and kit-built aircraft and the transition to Permit to Fly status of a number former Certificated types which were ‘orphaned’ as a result of the ending of support by type certificate holders. Prime among these are the de Havilland Tiger Moth and Chipmunk as well as others such as Jodels, the Auster fleet and Scottish Aviation Bulldog. A fast-growing gyroplane sector, with over 120 aircraft of 13 different types, is also a significant contributor.

“At a time when so much from the GA sector seems pessimistic, it is great to offer some good news” says LAA CEO Steve Slater. “The continuing growth of the National Permit to Fly aircraft sector is matched by our membership, which ends the year at over 7,600; an identical figure to when the year started. We owe a big thankyou to all the LAA staff and volunteers for making this possible.”

The number and variety of LAA aircraft makes it the largest and most diverse fleet in the United Kingdom, with a total of 484 different types approved for Permit to Fly operations. Among the most popular types, based on the number with active LAA-administered permits are:

Vans RV series (RV-4 to RV-12). 342
Europa 142
Jabiru J400, 430, 450, SK 132
Rans S-6 98
Evektor Eurostar 84
Alpi Pioneer series 53
Denney Kitfox 48
CZAW Sport Cruiser 48
Pitts Special 46

Jodel (all models) 138
Vintage Piper 105
Auster (all types) 94
DH82A Tiger Moth 61
DHC-1 Chipmunk 54

[Ian Melville]

Great news. Do you think busting 3000 for next Christmas is feasable?

[SteveSlater]

HI Ian

Probably not by the end of 2017, the number of aircraft left to transition from CAA Annex 2 to LAA Permit is now smaller, although we are currently reviewing whether, for example, it is feasible to create extra engineering support to accommodate YAK-52s and similar.

Unfortunately the CAA is still holding hard to the EASA line on not allowing any aircraft with current Type Support, no matter how tenuous, to transition to a National Permit to Fly. That currently rules out transitioning non-Permit vintage Pipers, Luscombes, Stinsons and the like. We are still pushing hard on that however and may even have future support from some of the Type Certificate holders.

Let's just say 3,000 aircraft might be a nice target to aim for in 2018??

Steve

[Ian Melville]

Sounds good to me.