How Aviation Weathered the Fuel Crisis of the 1970s

The shortage that began in 1973 left an indelible mark on aviation, but it wasn't all bad.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 09:14 AM ET

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An oil embargo in 1973 left pilots wondering how often they could afford to fill up. [FLYING Archives]

Key Takeaways:

Current high fuel prices and low jet-A inventories in general aviation echo the 1973 oil crisis, which led to severe shortages and the establishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The 1973 fuel crisis significantly spurred research and development, particularly by NASA, focusing on improving aircraft and engine fuel efficiency.
NASA's initiatives, such as the Aircraft Energy Efficiency and Advanced Turboprop projects, generated substantial technological advancements, though some, like the advanced turboprop concept, were later shelved when fuel prices decreased.

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The gas pump is anxious territory these days. Motorists are finding that gas prices are up 45 percent compared to this time last year. Diesel supplies are running low in pockets of the country as U.S. exports surge to meet demand in other countries.

The battle of limited supply versus high demand is spilling off the roadway and onto the runway. The price volatility confronting pilots at the pump at general aviation airports has provoked some uncertainty when it comes to travel plans. “The primary driver of the price volatility has been supply disruption,” Muneed Ahmed, director of trading and logistics for Avfuel, a global supplier of aviation fuel and services to the general and business aviation markets, told FLYING earlier this week.