Thu, Apr 22, 2010
EPA Begins Regulatory Process That Could Mean A Switch To
Unleaded Avgas
The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has formally begun the regulatory process required by the
Clean Air Act that may ultimately result in standards mandating the
industry's transition to unleaded aviation gasoline (avgas).
The EPA has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking
(ANPR) which is a key opportunity for the general aviation (GA)
community to provide comment regarding this possible new
environmental standard and into the development of a plan for
identifying, evaluating, and ultimately transitioning to an
unleaded fuel.
This is particularly important given the technical complexity
and safety implications of removing lead from aviation gasoline
since there is not a high-octane replacement unleaded avgas
available today that meets the requirements of the entire GA
fleet.
In the ANPR, the EPA recognized the complexity involved in
identifying and safely transitioning to an alternative gasoline,
stating, "Converting in-use aircraft/engines to operate on unleaded
aviation gasoline would be a significant logistical challenge, and
in some cases a technical challenge as well."
The agency also acknowledged that a
joint effort will be critical in the likely case that engine
modifications will need to be developed and certified. The
EPA continued, "Given the potentially large number of affected
aircraft and the potential complexities involved, a program
affecting in-use aircraft engines would need careful consideration
by both EPA and FAA and the two agencies would need to work
together in considering any potential program affecting the in-use
fleet."
The Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), the General
Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the National Air
Transportation Association (NATA), and the National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA) have devoted more than 20 years of
research and development to identifying a viable alternative to the
100 "low lead" avgas formulation used today by most piston-powered
aircraft.
The industry stakeholders look forward to continuing their work
with the EPA and the FAA on establishing a realistic standard to
reduce lead emissions from GA aircraft along a transition timeline
which balances environmental benefit with aviation safety,
technical feasibility and economic impact upon the GA industry.
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