Fri, Jan 20, 2023
While Alternatives Exist, a Premature End to 100LL Could Harm Industry
A group of 7 aviation stakeholder organizations has formally submitted their comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed endangerment finding of lead in aviation gasoline (avgas).
As we've seen in recent years, leaded avgas has become a pressure point in the industry, allowing those hostile to the presence of general aviation in their communities to force out light aircraft use under the auspices of public health. While replacements for leaded aviation fuel are on the way, the changeover will take some time. The 7-strong coalition issued its comments supporting the widespread removal of lead from avgas, but urged policymakers to thoroughly evaluate their options before removing avgas from the system.
Currently, a handful of privately funded, unleaded avgas have come to fruition, like GAMI's promising G100UL gas, but the transition from a small-batch, limited distribution product to nationwide presence at every airfield will be a lengthy one. The coalition seems to fear that policy makers at the EPA might ban 100LL - the lifeblood of general aviation - before its replacement can be adequately distributed. By now, few in the industry hold much expectation of leaded fuel being part of the aviation scene forever, with a general view of the phase out taking place sometime before 2030. That date was reiterated in another EPA commenter's brief from the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, an industry-government partnership working to facilitate the successful transition to lead-free avgas for piston aircraft by the end of 2030 without compromising the safe and efficient operation of the general aviation fleet.
The aviation stakeholders among the coalition members include the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and American Petroleum Institute (API).
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