The Chief Executive Officer of the Light Aircraft Association (LAA), Steve Slater, has announced his intention to step down from the role in Spring 2023.
This decision follows a period of over seven years in the post, during which Slater has “overseen a period of significant change in both the Association and the sport flying community”; a tenure which has seen him engaging with the organisation’s members, representing the sector at national and international level, and lobbying regulators on issues surrounding General Aviation.
Connecting with the LAA’s some 800 members has been a key element of Slater’s role, a task which has inspired incentives such as ‘Meet the LAA’ events, Virtual Pub Nights and fly-ins, the purpose of which are to get “more GA pilots interested in the benefits of LAA membership”. He also helped guide the organisation through the unprecedented challenges caused by the Covid lockdowns, “maintaining both membership levels and an on-budget balance sheet, as well as lobbying the regulator to ensure the minimizing of disruption to flying”.
The LAA currently oversee the airworthiness of around 2,600 aircraft and a further estimated 1,500 build projects, and as their website explain: “At our core is the amateur-build aircraft movement and the comprehensive facilities that support the Permit to Fly airworthiness system”. With this in mind, Slater’s tenure as Chief Executive has also seen him work on the protection of airfields as the LAA representative of the GA Awareness Council, played a “significant role” in briefing the CAA and Department of Transport on issues surrounding recreational aviation, and liaised with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on GA.
After being formed in 1946 as the Ultralight Aircraft Association, the Popular Flying Association – as it was known from 1949 – finally took on its current moniker in January 2008. However, Slater feels that – having recently turned 65 – it’s time for “some new ideas and initiatives”; adding that “for a like-minded enthusiast, it’s the best job in the world!”.
“I’m particularly keen to give a long period of notice, to ensure the Association has a smooth transition to my successor and that the LAA continue to remain the UK’s most successful powered flying members association”, he added.
More information about the LAA can be found at:
http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/
