Aviation Leaders Discuss How They’ll Get the Lead Out

AOPA president Mark Baker and FAA director of aircraft certification service Earl Lawrence talk about considerations for making unleaded fuel.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 05:12 PM ET

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The purpose of EAGLE is to chart the safe and smart transition to an unleaded future for the entire general aviation fleet. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative aims for a safe and smart transition to unleaded fuel for the entire general aviation fleet through broad stakeholder collaboration.
The transition is guided by four pillars: developing unleaded fuel infrastructure, supporting research and technology innovations, evaluating and authorizing safe unleaded fuels, and establishing necessary policies.
Significant challenges include ensuring compatibility and obtaining certifications for older aircraft that currently require leaded fuel.
The urgency for this transition is highlighted by the use of leaded fuel concerns as ammunition by groups seeking to force airport closures.

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The stakeholders behind the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative are striving to create a world where unleaded fuel is the norm rather than the exception. On Thursday, they talked about how they were going to accomplish that goal with a safe and smart transition to unleaded fuel for the entire general aviation fleet.

The purpose of EAGLE is to chart the safe and smart transition to an unleaded future for the entire general aviation fleet. According to Earl Lawrence, the FAA director of aircraft certification service, that won’t happen unless all the stakeholders from the aircraft manufacturers to the alphabet groups and the fuel manufacturers work together.