Aircraft Service & Support

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Over 20 years ago a company was formed on Little Snoring airfield to provide maintenance for rotary and fixed wing aircraft, the company developed a reputation for providing high quality maintenance for Piper, Cessna, Socata, Enstrom and a wide range of other single and twin engined aircraft with a Maximum Take Off Weight of up to 5700kgs.

In 2008 The Light Aircraft Company Ltd acquired the business along with its maintenance facilities, systems and employee’s and in 2008 increased the scope of its approvals to become a CAMO and was awarded EASA PArt M Subparts F, G and I whilst still maintaining its original M3 approvals.

In 2022 The Light Aircraft Company became a CAA approved Part CAO continuing maintenance organisation (ref UK.CAO.0057)

TLAC is a professionally run “One Stop Shop” for scheduled aircraft maintenance in the Eastern Region, it is run by Pilots for Pilots.

TLAC employ long serving skilled and knowledgeable licensed engineers who work in CAA approved 5000 square foot heated workshops, and their workmanship is insured and warranted.

And for those customers with tight time constraints TLAC offer an Aircraft Collection and Delivery service.

So when you place a high priority on aircraft maintenance TLAC is the choice, why not give us a call it costs nothing to talk.

Pre-purchase inspections

Probably the most important step of buying a pre-owned aircraft is the Pre Purchase inspection. Regardless of whether you are spending £10,000 or £200,000 a Pre Purchase inspection can save you a fortune and your sanity.

A Pre Purchase inspection is not a quick look around the aircraft and a couple of circuits, if that is all your maintenance company undertakes then you should undertake to change them!

The first stage of a successful Pre Purchase inspection should involve you ensuring your maintenance organisation has the capability (scope) of maintaining the type and model of aircraft you are considering buying. They should then do the desk research on the aircraft in question researching any particular service requirements, all of the AD’s and SB’s etc. The aircraft should then be brought into a well lit maintenance workshop, all of the panels removed and the aircraft inspected, serial numbers checked against logbooks along with compliance with any AD’s and SB’s and any lifed items checked to ensure serviceability. Anything less than this has the potential to cost you money in the long term, the cost of a replacement CSU, the cost of replacing an engine, the cost of changing a pair of mags in relationship to the cost of a Pre Purchase survey can be pretty significant.

If you are considering a purchase then feel free to give us a call

Technical support

Aircraft maintenance is critical, after all there is no hard shoulder to pull over to at 2000 feet?

Most owners of aircraft do not get involved with aircraft maintenance other than feeling it is expensive and/or as part of their normal pre-flight routine, they empower the organisation who looks after the aircraft to ensure that everything complies with the latest regulations and that the paperwork is correct and up to date. With the majority of professional aircraft maintenance organisations in the UK you will be well looked after and will enjoy trouble free flying, but there is still the odd “man in a van” who will take your money and leave you in a difficult if not potentially illegal position.

If you are such an aircraft owner it would pay you to take marginally more interest in the overall maintenance of your aircraft, and the maintenance organisation will I am sure be motivated by your interest to take time to explain what is being done, why and the implications, if they don’t I would suggest it is time to maybe look for another service provider.

Turning the spanners and getting greasy hands is only part of the overall maintenance program, equally important is the paperwork side of the job, and there is a lot of it the advent of EASA Part M has ensured that. As a minimum get to know your log books (the bit at the back), get to understand what work has been done on your aircraft as at the end of the day you will be paying for it, you would check the bill at a restaurant why not for aircraft maintenance?

If you have concerns feel free to give us a call or speak to an industry professional, it might be the best move you have made.