The ultimate goal? An unleaded drop-in replacement for 100LL, the avgas we use to power a large percentage of the general aviation fleet—and particularly one that serves the roughly one-third of piston airplanes that require at least 100 octane fuel.
Report on Lead Emissions Reduction for Piston-Engine Aircraft Released
Key Takeaways:
- The general aviation industry faces significant challenges in replacing leaded 100LL avgas with an unleaded drop-in alternative, primarily due to high infrastructure costs, complex FAA certification, and fuel compatibility issues.
- A National Academies report proposes a cautious, multi-pathway approach to reduce lead emissions, combining the development of new fuels and propulsion technologies with improved airport operations and practices.
- Near- to mid-term solutions include altering pre-takeoff run-up procedures and improving fuel handling practices to reduce lead exposure, alongside increasing the availability of existing lower-lead fuels with potential congressional incentives.
- The report also recommends a long-term goal that all newly certified gasoline-powered aircraft within ten years be approved to operate with at least one ASTM-specified unleaded fuel.
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