Avgas Alternatives

Steve Ells

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:08 AM ET

Verified

** As 100LL comes under fire, the industry
searches for lead-free avgas alternatives.**

Key Takeaways:

The EPA's 2010 announcement proposing data collection on leaded avgas (100LL) signaled its likely phase-out due to lead's environmental and health hazards, as well as its negative impact on engine components.
Replacing 100LL is challenging because simply removing lead lowers octane to 94, rendering many high-performance aircraft unairworthy; the industry seeks a universally compatible, affordable, 100-octane lead-free fuel that avoids costly engine modifications.
Two companies, GAMI and Swift Technologies, are developing distinct 100-octane unleaded fuel formulations using mesitylene-based compounds, while other options like very low-lead 100-octane (100VLL) or 94UL are considered as interim or less ideal solutions.

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In April 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency released an announcement that it was proposing to gather data to determine if leaded avgas is an environmental health hazard.

The announcement in the form of an advanced notice of proposed rule making (ANPRM) has created reactions that range from a willingness to move forward in the search for the new lead-free avgas to alarm at the idea of government mandated changes and outrage due to what some see as a misguided plan to replace one boutique fuel with another. Regardless, the ANPRM served as a wake-up call to GA that 100LL is on the way out and the aviation community needs to figure out what to do next.