Thu, May 20, 2004
What Comes After 100LL?
What will fuel your aircraft's engine in the future when oil
companies eventually stop making 100-octane low lead (100LL)
aviation gasoline? Rising prices for automotive gasoline is drawing
a great deal of attention nationally, but within the aviation
industry, there continues to be discussion on the future
availability of 100LL avgas. It's a problem that probably won't
affect pilots for years, but it's an issue that AOPA knows is
coming and is actively involved in finding a solution.
AOPA is supporting FAA and industry research into unleaded
aviation gasoline that will safely satisfy the operational needs of
the existing fleet. AOPA has also successfully lobbied for
continued FAA research into technologies for modifications of
existing general aviation piston engines to enable a transition to
a more environmentally friendly and economically viable general
aviation fuel.
A meeting AOPA attended recently detailed the lab work under way
to find a replacement for 100LL. A number of alternatives show
promise, but all still need further development. As a full member
of the Coordinating Research Council, AOPA is working to ensure
that a viable alternative is found, tested, and certified before
100LL is phased out.
In the early 1990s, AOPA lobbied forcefully and successfully to
prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from banning the use of
leaded aviation gasoline. However, the EPA banned all other leaded
gasoline, so general aviation was left as the nation's sole user of
a leaded motor fuel.
"Avgas has become a 'boutique' fuel," said AOPA Manager of
Regulatory and Certification Policy Rob Hackman. "Not much of it is
produced, so it costs nearly twice as much as unleaded fuel."
AOPA has successfully lobbied for funding each year so that the
FAA's Technical Center can continue research on an acceptable
alternative to 100LL avgas that is affordable and would require
little or no modification to the existing fleet.
"When a suitable high-octane unleaded replacement fuel is found,
AOPA will be there to advocate for quick certification by the FAA,"
said Hackman.
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