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When the Sun Sets on 100LL, Will You Be Ready?

Learn what you can do now to prepare for the changeover to unleaded fuel.

The fuel that trucks like this carry may change soon. What does that mean for you? [File Photo: Adobe Stock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Aviation is moving away from 100LL leaded fuel, with some airports already restricting its availability and mandating unleaded alternatives, which will necessitate changes for aircraft owners and flight planning.
  • Transitioning to unleaded fuels requires aircraft owners to verify compatibility and obtain specific FAA approvals, often through OEM service bulletins or Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs), for both their engine and airframe.
  • While existing unleaded fuels like UL94 are available for some aircraft, promising new high-octane alternatives like GAMI's G100UL are nearing fleet-wide certification as direct replacements for 100LL, offering benefits such as reduced maintenance and environmental advantages.
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Some airports now restrict the availability of 100 octane low-lead aviation gasoline—commonly referred to as 100LL avgas—and are mandating unleaded fuel instead. Although this practice is not common yet—and limited to a few locations—changes are coming to aviation fuel regulations. Here is what you can do now to prepare you and your aircraft for the eventual sunsetting of 100LL.

As more airfields adopt this policy, it could cause affect flight plans and significantly impact aircraft owners and pilots, especially those operating high-performance models.

Richard Scarbrough

Richard is a US Navy Veteran, A&P Mechanic, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumni. His experience ranges from general and corporate aviation to helicopters, business jets, and commercial airliners. Former owner of a 145 repair station, he currently has an aerospace product management role and is a member of the T-C-Alliance. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @RScarCo.

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