GA Pilots Press Committee on Lead-Free Fuel

FAA and industry leaders respond to pilots concerned about removing lead from fuel.

Thom Patterson

Monday, July 25, 2022 at 05:57 PM ET

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A Cessna aircraft [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation pilots expressed significant frustration at EAA AirVenture regarding the scarcity of 100LL avgas and the slow progress in developing viable lead-free, high-octane fuel alternatives.
The EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) initiative, a collaborative effort by aviation industry stakeholders, aims to develop and transition the entire GA fleet to unleaded fuel by an "aggressive" target of 2030.
Developing and implementing a safe, effective unleaded fuel solution for all 167,000 U.S. piston aircraft is a complex, unprecedented undertaking with many challenges, though some pilots are pushing for the immediate certification of existing unleaded options.

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GA pilots posed hard questions Monday to a panel of aviation industry stakeholders trying to develop new lead-free, high octane fuel. At this year’s Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, several pilots expressed frustration with the lack of available fuel options at many airports.

“We can’t buy 100LL fuel,” one GA pilot complained to the panel. “When can we have some alternative?” That question—and several others like it—drew robust applause among the audience of about 200 people attending a forum on the EAGLE initiative.