Aviation Community Livid With Santa Clara County Over Looming 100LL Ban

County Board of Supervisors announced that the new regulations take effect January 1.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 06:35 PM ET

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When the 100LL ban came down in Santa Clara County, Trade Winds Aviation replaced the 100LL with unleaded Swift94UL avgas, but not all airplanes can run it. [Photo: Walt Gyger]

Key Takeaways:

Santa Clara County banned 100LL aviation fuel at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) starting January 2022, citing a study that showed high blood lead levels in local children near the facility.
Airport businesses and pilots dispute this, calling the ban a political move by county officials to force the airport's closure, rather than a genuine health issue, and point to other factors like month-to-month lease offers as tactics to make the airport undesirable.
While some flight schools have switched to unleaded Swift94UL avgas, not all aircraft can use it, forcing some pilots to refuel elsewhere, and the ban has drawn concern from national aviation groups over safety risks during the transition to unleaded fuels.
The ban is part of a broader effort by some county supervisors, particularly Supervisor Cindy Chavez, whose stated goal is to eliminate lead exposure and pursue the airport's early closure before federal grant assurances expire in 2031.

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Airport businesses and pilots who use Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) are calling Santa Clara County’s decision to ban 100LL as of January 1, 2022, a political move to force the closure of the airport and not a health issue, as touted by persons pushing airport closure.

The 180-acre airport operated by Santa Clara County is located in east San Jose. In August 2021, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors discussed the findings published in an airborne lead study report that they say demonstrated dangerously high blood lead levels (BLL) in local children.