With the Permit To Fly (PtF) regime, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has delegated the annual airworthiness inspections of amateur-built, experimental, and micro-light aircraft. Not all inspectors are approved for all aircraft types, or for all situations. In particular, a few certain aircraft types are covered only by 'special' inspector approvals. The individual mandatory operating limitations in terms of maximum permitted weight, airspeed, aerobatic ‘g’ limits, day/VFR restriction, etc, for each aircraft are specified on the unique operating limitations document that forms part of the Permit to Fly. With a few exceptions, LAA Permit to Fly aircraft are restricted to private use only, meaning they cannot be hired out or used for flight training on a commercial basis. The exceptions are certain type approved factory built microlights, type approved factory built gyroplanes, and certain factory built single seat aeroplanes, primarily the Tiger Club’s Turbulents. Permit to Fly aircraft cannot be used for commercial banner towing, commercial aerial photography etc. but can be used in air displays and competitions, racing etc.
The Permit to Fly requires that the aircraft must be maintained in an airworthy condition. It is always preferable to keep the aircraft tidy throughout the year rather than allowing a long list of jobs to build up with the intention of tackling them all at Permit renewal time. LAA encourages owners to engage themselves fully with the maintenance of the aircraft, but alternatively this can be carried out on a commercial basis either using paid individuals or a maintenance organisation. Either way, by their very nature, Permit to Fly aircraft are somewhat unique and less well supported in airworthiness terms than their CofA cousins and need a greater degree of owner engagement, technical appreciation and vigilance to achieve an equivalent safety level. LAA encourages and generally achieves an excellent standard these days and it’s rare you’ll find an LAA aircraft that’s less well cared for than other aircraft in the hangar.
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