Organization Cites Reports of Aircraft Damage and Questionable Data

Just days after pretty much every major general aviation aircraft manufacturer rejected the product, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) released a statement warning California against a “forced” and “premature” transition to GAMI’s G100UL unleaded avgas.

“Transitioning to a new aviation fuel that lacks transparent data and has not undergone an independent peer reviewed industry consensus process introduces unknown numbers of new risks into the aviation system at a time when the entire industry has reaffirmed its commitment to safety,” explained NATA CEO and President Curt Castagna.

G100UL, an unleaded gas developed by General Aviation Modifications, Inc (GAMI), was first rolled out at two California airports: Reid-Hillview (RHV) and Watsonville Municipal (WVI). The fuel remained confined to California until late last year when it was delivered to Tupelo Aviation Unlimited, the fixed-base operator at Mississippi’s Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP).

While many were excited to finally see the push for sustainable fuels materialize, NATA warns that high hopes may have distracted officials from the dangers of a relatively unexplored product. California jumped on the opportunity to introduce G100UL to meet its goal of banning leaded avgas by January 2031 without thoroughly investigating its implications.

These fears proved accurate when several customers began reporting damage to their aircraft’s paint, fuel systems, and seals. The FAA opened an investigation into these claims, and several leading general aviation manufacturers, including Piper, Cirrus, Lycoming, and Textron, published letters clarifying that GAMI G100UL is not approved for their aircraft.

“Recent questions, concerns, and reports on potential materials incompatibility of the CEH-specified new fuel in the California marketplace, as well as the lack of approval and endorsement by multiple aircraft and engine manufacturers, cannot be ignored while the industry still seeks data to assist in the transition to a new fuel,” continued Castagna.

The organization’s statement was issued mere days before a hearing to a motion brought by the California Center for Environmental Health (CEH) that would require many of NATA’s member businesses to “prematurely transition away from current aviation gasoline in favor of a single unleaded aviation fuel, despite the fuel's lack of approval for certain categories of general aviation aircraft.”

FMI: www.g100ul.com, www.nata.aero