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

Verified

A Cessna aircraft [Courtesy: Textron Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation (GA) pilots expressed significant frustration at EAA AirVenture over the lack of readily available lead-free, high-octane fuel alternatives to the required 100LL avgas.
The EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) initiative, a collaborative effort among major aviation stakeholders, aims to develop and transition the entire GA fleet to unleaded fuel by 2030.
This transition is a highly complex undertaking, requiring extensive research, engine compatibility solutions, and infrastructure development, with stakeholders acknowledging the 2030 goal as "aggressive."
Despite the long-term timeline, many pilots are advocating for more immediate action and faster certification of existing unleaded fuel options to address current availability and environmental concerns.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.