GA Pilots Press Committee on Lead-Free Fuel

FAA and industry leaders respond to pilots concerned about removing lead from fuel.

Thom Patterson

Monday, July 25, 2022 at 05:57 PM ET

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A Cessna aircraft [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation pilots expressed significant frustration at EAA AirVenture regarding the scarcity of 100LL fuel and the slow progress in developing widely available, lead-free, high-octane alternatives.
The EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) initiative, a collaborative industry effort, aims to transition the entire general aviation fleet to unleaded fuel by an aggressive target of 2030, after which 100LL would be phased out.
Developing and implementing a fleet-wide unleaded fuel solution is a complex challenge, requiring extensive research, engine technology modifications, infrastructure changes, and regulatory approvals.
Despite optimism from stakeholders, some pilots are skeptical of the EAGLE program's timeline and cost, urging the FAA for faster approval of existing unleaded fuel options like G100UL.

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GA pilots posed hard questions Monday to a panel of aviation industry stakeholders trying to develop new lead-free, high octane fuel. At this year’s Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, several pilots expressed frustration with the lack of available fuel options at many airports.

“We can’t buy 100LL fuel,” one GA pilot complained to the panel. “When can we have some alternative?” That question—and several others like it—drew robust applause among the audience of about 200 people attending a forum on the EAGLE initiative.