The ultimate goal? An unleaded drop-in replacement for 100LL, the avgas we use to power a large percentage of the general aviation fleet—and particularly one that serves the roughly one-third of piston airplanes that require at least 100 octane fuel.
Report on Lead Emissions Reduction for Piston-Engine Aircraft Released
Key Takeaways:
- The ultimate goal of finding an unleaded, drop-in replacement for 100LL avgas is challenged by infrastructure costs, FAA certification requirements for diverse fleets, and the detrimental effects of ethanol in auto fuel on aircraft systems.
- A National Academies report recommends a "multi-pathway approach" to reduce lead emissions, integrating the development of lead-free fuels and new propulsion technologies with improved airport operations and existing fuel/aircraft mitigation strategies.
- Near-to-mid-term mitigation involves altering pre-takeoff engine run-up procedures and enhancing fuel handling awareness to reduce lead exposure, alongside increasing the availability of existing lower-lead or unleaded alternative fuels with potential congressional incentives.
- The report suggests a long-term objective that all newly certified gasoline-powered aircraft within a decade should be approved to operate with at least one ASTM-specified unleaded fuel.
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