Loughborough Branch: The Light Aircraft Association - An Overview of building your own aircraft in the UK

The Light Aircraft Association is a members' association and non-profit-making organisation dedicated to facilitating amateur building, sport flying, and vintage aircraft in the UK. Founded in 1946 as the Popular Flying Association (PFA), it became the LAA in 2008.

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the LAA's formation and evolution into the association it is today. It details the types of aircraft that can be built under the LAA system and explains how aircraft building is supervised, as well as the maintenance of existing aircraft.

The presentation covers the wide range of opportunities available for modifying and enhancing aircraft to meet owners' needs under the LAA's design authority. It highlights how you can get involved with either building or owning an aircraft on the LAA fleet and introduces key events to attend, including the annual LAA Rally.

The speaker is Lucy Wootton MEng (Hons), DIS, DipHE, MRAeS, who studied Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University (2015–2020) and completed a placement year at Rolls-Royce in Derby. Following graduation, she worked as a Design Engineer before joining the Light Aircraft Association in August 2022 as Chief Inspector, overseeing approximately 330 inspectors across the UK. In November 2024, she moved to the newly created role of Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection, heading a team responsible for oversight of continuing airworthiness of a fleet of around 2,700 airworthy aircraft. Outside work, Lucy is a keen glider and light aircraft pilot and serves as Chief Flying Instructor at her local gliding club.

RAeS Members, Associated Branch Members, and students attend free. Non-members are encouraged to make a £3 donation.