Avgas Coalition on Aviation Fuel Pushes for 100LL Bridge

A letter petitions for the need to continue availability of the current fuel supply during the transition to unleaded avgas.

Julie Boatman

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 11:55 AM ET

Verified

Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California, was one of the first airports to suffer a ban on the sale of 100LL. [Photo courtesy of AOPA/Mike Fizer]

Key Takeaways:

The Avgas Coalition, representing over 110 aviation organizations, petitioned the DOT and FAA to maintain the availability of 100LL aviation fuel during the transition to unleaded alternatives.
This petition was a direct response to recent bans on 100LL sales at Santa Clara County airports in California, which lack a compatible unleaded option for 30% of the general aviation piston fleet that requires it.
The coalition argues that these premature bans create significant safety risks, violate federal grant obligations by restricting access and discriminating against certain users, and could trigger a detrimental "domino effect" at other airports.
While supporting the goal of a fleet-wide unleaded fuel by 2030, the coalition stresses the critical need for 100LL during the interim period to ensure a safe and smart transition for all aircraft.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The Avgas Coalition last week delivered a letter petitioning the Department of Transportation and the FAA to maintain availability of 100LL during the transition period to unleaded fuel.

The coalition—consisting of more than 110 members of the general and business aviation community—delivered the letter to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen on May 6 in response to recent moves by airports in California to ban the sale of 100LL effective immediately, with no broad mitigation for the prohibition in place.