FAA: California Airport Violating Grant Assurances

Removal of 100LL cited in violation.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 at 11:43 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Trade Winds Aviation, a growing flight training organization at Reid-Hillview, has taken a proactive stance towards being a good neighbor to the surrounding community. Trade Winds Aviation

Key Takeaways:

The FAA ruled that Santa Clara County improperly banned 100 low lead (100LL) fuel at its Reid-Hillview and San Martin airports.
This ban violated federal "grant assurances," which airports must uphold after accepting FAA funding, by discriminating against certain airport users.
The determination resulted from a lawsuit filed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) on behalf of affected flight schools and pilots.
Santa Clara County is now required to submit a corrective action plan within 30 days to reverse the ban and allow the sale and use of 100LL fuel.

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A lawsuit filed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) on behalf of flight schools and pilots at two airports in Santa Clara County, Calif., over the ban on 100 low lead (100LL) fuel has come to a close, with the Federal Aviation Administration determining that the ban put the county in violation of grant assurances.

According to the FAA: “The FAA issued a formal determination that Santa Clara County improperly banned the sale and use of leaded aviation fuel at its two of its airports – Reid-Hillview and San Martin,” the agency stated to FLYING.