Aviation Leaders Discuss How They’ll Get the Lead Out

AOPA president Mark Baker and FAA director of aircraft certification service Earl Lawrence talk about considerations for making unleaded fuel.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 05:12 PM ET

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The purpose of EAGLE is to chart the safe and smart transition to an unleaded future for the entire general aviation fleet. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The EAGLE initiative aims to achieve a safe and smart transition to unleaded fuel for the entire general aviation fleet through broad collaboration among various stakeholders, including the FAA, EPA, manufacturers, and fuel suppliers.
The initiative is structured around four pillars: developing commercially viable unleaded fuel infrastructure, supporting research and development for engine compatibility and new technologies, continuing to evaluate and authorize safe unleaded fuels, and establishing necessary policies.
Significant challenges exist, such as ensuring compatibility with the predominantly old general aviation aircraft fleet (many certified for leaded fuel) and securing participation from all avgas producers.
The transition is urgent due to societal concerns about leaded fuel, which are being used by some groups as a reason to force the closure of general aviation airports, as exemplified in Santa Clara County.

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The stakeholders behind the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative are striving to create a world where unleaded fuel is the norm rather than the exception. On Thursday, they talked about how they were going to accomplish that goal with a safe and smart transition to unleaded fuel for the entire general aviation fleet.

The purpose of EAGLE is to chart the safe and smart transition to an unleaded future for the entire general aviation fleet. According to Earl Lawrence, the FAA director of aircraft certification service, that won’t happen unless all the stakeholders from the aircraft manufacturers to the alphabet groups and the fuel manufacturers work together.