Update Triggers Questions on Unleaded Avgas Progress

GAMA hosted the EAGLE roundtable, bringing together stakeholders looking for more transparency and urgency.

Tuesday, June 06, 2023 at 03:05 PM ET

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The purpose of EAGLE is to chart the safe and smart transition to an unleaded future for the entire general aviation fleet. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The general aviation industry is under urgent pressure to replace leaded avgas by 2030 due, driven by an impending EPA ruling and the EAGLE initiative.
Multiple unleaded avgas candidates are progressing through two distinct approval pathways: the FAA's PAFI program (leading to ASTM standards) and proprietary Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs).
Beyond just octane, critical concerns for new fuels include transparency of chemical composition, toxicity, materials compatibility, stability, vaporization, density, and fuel control adjustments to ensure safe and reliable operation.
A fully vetted, commercially viable replacement with a mature production specification is needed to prevent premature local bans and ensure a smooth, methodical transition for the diverse general aviation fleet.

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The clock ticks louder each week, it seems, as pressure grows to move forward with a viable replacement for the primary unleaded avgas in use in the general aviation fleet. And we need more transparency on the process—and the very recipes for the fuels in question—according to industry leaders.

To focus a lens on the issue—and compel critical questioning to the process—the General Aviation Manufacturers Association on Monday hosted a roundtable of stakeholders to the EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) initiative to give an update on how things stand. The initiative seeks a complete replacement of leaded fuel by no later than 2030, with a sunsetting of the fuel while maintaining a high level of safety in GA operations, which it primarily affects.