Rental of LAA aircraft

[oprince]

Is it possible to obtain an exemption from the CAA to enable a permit aircraft to be hired out by a flying school, airfield or other organisation?

I am an NPPL licence holder unable to obtain a LAPL medical at present. I have been hiring club aircraft but this will no longer be possible when the rules change on 8th April 2018 as the club own EASA aircraft. There are no shares in LAA aircraft at nearby airfields, I cannot afford to purchase an aircraft myself at the moment and I have failed in trying to form a syndicate (no hangarage nearby anyway!).

My limited understanding is that it is not possible to rent a permit aircraft. Is this correct?

Has anyone in a similar position had any productive conversations with flying schools etc other than to get an nppl(m) and rent a microlight?

[Brian Hope]

Hi Oliver, at present I am afraid it is not possible to undertake hire and reward with an LAA Permit aeroplane or microlight, but discussions are ongoing between the LAA and CAA to make this possible. It is impossible to say when a resolution will happen but it is a priority issue for us.
In the meantime, why not try to make contact with other LAA members in your area who do have aircraft available to them and see if you can arrange some cost sharing flying? If there is a local Strut near you, contact the co-ordinator and have a chat with him/her and go to a meeting or two. Strut members usually know what is going on locally and hopefully will be able to give you some leads and invite you to the local strips etc where you will get to know more members.
As soon as we hear news on hire and reward it will be posted on the forum, in the news section and of course in the magazine.
Good luck, give me a call or drop me an email if I can help at all. Brian.

[oprince]

Thank you. Alan Kilbride has been in touch and I will endeavour to attend the Vale of York Strut meeting.

Is there any way of getting involved to help with LAA/NPPL issues?

[Ian Melville]

Oliver, I hope you don't mind me picking up on a point in your first post.
You said you were unable to get an LAPL medical, am I right in assuming you have a NPPL declaration? or using a self declaration?

IIRC there was someone looking for cases where a pilot was unable to transfer from NPPL declaration to LAPL medical. They are supposed to be comparable, but I know they are not, and I will be soon putting it to the test as I wish to continue flying EASA aircraft after April 2018, even though I have a share in a permit aircraft. My issues are hearing related.

Pity I cannot remember who

[Brian Hope]

Hi Ian, it might have been Jon Cooke, who heads up the Association's Pilot Coaching Scheme. He monitors this forum so will no doubt comment if it is him.
Pleased to hear Alan has been in touch, they're a very friendly and active bunch in his Strut. I'm not sure there is a lot you can do at the moment Oliver but I'll ask those who are dealing with this issue if they need anything specific doing by those in this predicament.

[Alan Kilbride]

[Ian Melville]

Brian, Jon did ask in the Sept 2016 Light Aviation regarding the new 'Self Declaration'. Perhaps that was what I was thinking of.

[oprince]

Ian Melville it's a self-declaration. Working on getting a LAPL medical. If it does get approved, it's not going to happen overnight sadly.

[Ian Melville]

All the best then Oliver.