Solution Seeks Problem

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on Friday, 7 October 2022, proposed to declare emissions from piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded fuel a danger to public health.

Emissions from the 190,000 U.S. general aviation airplanes operating on leaded fuel account for about seventy percent of the lead entering the atmosphere, according to U.S. government estimates—which are renowned for their accuracy, impartiality, and freedom from politicization (NOT!).

The EPA further stated that if its proposed endangerment finding were to be finalized, the agency would subsequently propose regulatory standards for lead emissions from aircraft engines.

The EPA’s proclamation appears to discount the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative—a joint undertaking of the FAA and the general aviation industry, and a self-evident manifestation of the two entities’ shared desire to eliminate lead from all aviation fuels by 2030.

The GA industry has been preparing for the proposed EPA finding and the multi-step regulatory process it stands to precipitate, and has aligned the goals of the EAGLE program to meet the challenges of transitioning to an unleaded future without compromising the economic and broader public benefits of general aviation.

It’s important to note the EPA announcement in no way bans or mitigates the use or sale of 100-low-lead (100LL) fuel at any of the nation’s more than 5,000 public-use airports. Any ban of 100LL for piston-powered aircraft before an unleaded alternative is widely available—in addition to occasioning a violation of current federal aviation regulation—poses an unacceptable safety risk to pilots and passengers, and stands to engender dire economic consequences. Ergo, the general aviation industry, and the FAA remain resolutely committed to a deliberate, circumspect, and safe transition to unleaded fuels.

To date, a 100-octane unleaded fuel developed by Oklahoma-based General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI) has been approved by the FAA for use in nearly all general aviation piston aircraft engines and airframes. Steps are currently being taken by GAMI to move subject fuel through the commercialization process.

Indiana’s Swift Fuels, LLC is also making significant progress on its 100-octane unleaded fuel solution, for which the company anticipates the FAA will grant approval in 2023.

Additional unleaded fuels concocted by partnerships between Afton Chemical and Phillips 66; and Lyondell and VP Racing are being evaluated by the FAA’s Piston Aviation Fuel Initiative program. Congress has provided more than $40 million for the testing and evaluation of leaded fuel alternatives.

Comprising north of 220,000 aircraft, the general aviation fleet contributes some $247-billion per year to the U.S. economy, and directly supports over 1.2-million American jobs. U.S. general aviation aircraft log approximately 25.5-million yearly flight hours—two-thirds of which fall under the heading of business travel, with the remainder being split between police, firefighting, search-and-rescue, air-ambulance, evacuation, and scientific research missions, as well as personal and recreational flying.

FMI: www.nata.aero