Briefing: June 2010

Efforts from companies like Swift Fuel and GAMI to find a replacement for 100LL may get some more serious attention now that the EPA has released its advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the need to eliminate lead from fuel. Converting in-use aircraft/engines to operate on unleaded aviation gasoline would be a significant logistical challenge, and in some cases a technical challenge as well, the EPA said. The EPA also acknowledged that a joint effort with the FAA will be critical and has not set a date for the rulemaking, but said it would like to see leaded fuel phased out as early as 2017.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, April 02, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The EPA is advancing rulemaking to phase out leaded aviation fuel (100LL) as early as 2017, acknowledging logistical and technical challenges.
One of the two WAAS satellites failed, leading to service interruptions and a "single-point failure situation" until a replacement is launched by year-end.
A Boeing 777 and a Cessna 182 had a near-collision over San Francisco, coming within 300 feet, with the FAA attributing the loss of separation to the SFO Tower controller.
The FAA has changed its policy to allow medical certificates for pilots using certain antidepressants after 12 months of stable treatment, and offers a limited-time amnesty for previously undisclosed conditions.

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EPA Advances 100LL Rulemaking Process
Efforts from companies like Swift Fuel and GAMI to find a replacement for 100LL may get some more serious attention now that the EPA has released its advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the need to eliminate lead from fuel. “Converting in-use aircraft/engines to operate on unleaded aviation gasoline would be a significant logistical challenge, and in some cases a technical challenge as well,” the EPA said. The EPA also acknowledged that a joint effort with the FAA will be critical and has not set a date for the rulemaking, but said it would like to see leaded fuel phased out as early as 2017.

One Of Two WAAS Satellites floats over the event horizon
The Wide Area Augmentation System, which broadcasts GPS corrections used by aviators across North America, hangs on just two satellites. Oh, wait, make that one. The FAA contractor, Intelsat, lost control of the satellite on April 3. This quickly cut WAAS coverage at 16 airports in Alaska. However, due to the lack of redundant coverage, WAAS users across North America may experience temporary service interruptions. Also, the FAA pointed out that a “single-point failure situation exists until redundancy [is] restored.” A replacement satellite should launch by the end of this year. This on top of the lagging replacement of regular GPS satellites. Don’t sell that KX 155 just yet.