How Aviation Weathered the Fuel Crisis of the 1970s

The shortage that began in 1973 left an indelible mark on aviation, but it wasn't all bad.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 09:14 AM ET

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An oil embargo in 1973 left pilots wondering how often they could afford to fill up. [FLYING Archives]

Key Takeaways:

Current high fuel prices and low jet-A inventories for general aviation mirror the energy crisis of 1973, when fuel supplies were drastically cut and prices soared.
The 1973 OPEC oil embargo severely impacted U.S. aviation, leading to fuel rationing, a downturn in aircraft sales, and the establishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
This past crisis spurred significant innovation, notably through NASA's Aircraft Energy Efficiency program and Advanced Turboprop Project, which aimed to develop more fuel-efficient engines and aircraft.
Despite achieving technological breakthroughs and awards for fuel-saving designs, the widespread market adoption of some innovations, like advanced turboprops, was ultimately shelved due to declining fuel prices and public perception once the immediate crisis subsided.

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The gas pump is anxious territory these days. Motorists are finding that gas prices are up 45 percent compared to this time last year. Diesel supplies are running low in pockets of the country as U.S. exports surge to meet demand in other countries.

The battle of limited supply versus high demand is spilling off the roadway and onto the runway. The price volatility confronting pilots at the pump at general aviation airports has provoked some uncertainty when it comes to travel plans. “The primary driver of the price volatility has been supply disruption,” Muneed Ahmed, director of trading and logistics for Avfuel, a global supplier of aviation fuel and services to the general and business aviation markets, told FLYING earlier this week.