23 October 2025
What started as a routine Annual General Meeting for the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) turned into something more complex and controversial. One Board candidate was expelled, votes voided, and members openly questioned the fairness and transparency of the process.
The AGM on Sunday 19 October saw around 190 members attend in person and online. Just 48 hours earlier, the LAA Board had announced that Colin Hales — a known figure in the homebuilt community and a candidate in the Board election — had been expelled from the LAA.
The chairman instructed the independent election administrator, Mi Voice, to remove Colin from the ballot on Friday afternoon, after the Board had met to decide his charges of prejudicial conduct and decided to end his membership of the association. All votes cast for him were also voided.
At the meeting, the Chairman defended the move with a prepared statement and confirmed that any appeal would be handled by the LAA President. Even if the appeal was successful, it would not reinstate Hales in time to stand or vote due to a two-year membership requirement.
LAA members present questioned whether it was appropriate to expel a candidate mid-election and alter the ballot while voting was underway. Suggestions to pause the vote or count and hold all ballots pending the appeal were dismissed.
Colin Hales on his round the world flight
Mr Hales, although no longer a member, attended the meeting as a proxy voter nominated by a number of LAA members. When asked to leave the room by the Chairman, many members applauded him. Others took to the Zoom chat to voice concern, labelling the move “undemocratic”, “disproportionate”, and “damaging to confidence”. There were repeated calls for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to review governance and disciplinary procedures.
The AGM may be over, but the turbulence remains. Colin Hales issued a statement saying: “I’ve been advised not to make any further social media comments about the AGM, other events or public statements made about me from the LAA at this time. This is really difficult for me and I’m really biting my tongue, but please be patient and the necessary truthful facts will be aired as soon as possible.”
Chairman of the LAA, Eryl Smith, told FLYER, “Mr Hales was invited before the Board to answer charges of Conduct prejudicial to LAA under Rule 8a of the association’s Rules and provided with a full explanation of the charges.
“The criteria for nomination to become a director are set out in the Articles of the association and this covers the period of continuous beneficial shareholder status.
“To my recollection there were no calls for an EGM in the meeting though several questions were raised regarding the perceived fairness of the Board’s actions and to defer the vote for the appointment of the Directors. Again, the criteria for calling an EGM are set out in the association’s Articles.
“As both part of the statement to members and in response to questions raised in the meeting, I stated that the Board’s decision had not been taken lightly. It reflected the Board’s responsibility for the interests of the association, our members, officers and a duty of care to staff.
“[The LAA] Board refutes all the allegations made in Mr Hales’ social media posts against the LAA , its staff and in particular the CEO, individual Board members and myself. I further confirmed that the CAA had expressly confirmed that it was not investigating the LAA or the CEO for any alleged misconduct.
“Mr Hales has exercised his right of appeal to the LAA President as provided for under the rules. The Board will not comment further on the detail but will make a full statement on the issue to our members at the conclusion of the appeal process. “
