Resort of Fuel Colorations Axes Old Shades, Rings In New Ones

Swift Fuels has clarified that all UL94 unleaded avgas will be delivered with a purple dye as its main distinguishing feature.

The color change is the "result of over 4 years of planning by ASTM International and is designed to increase avgas refueling safety in the marketplace". That should be a fine way to differentiate it against the blues, reds, and greens of other aviation fuels around the patch. It's worth recalling the GAMI's G100UL unleaded avgas is a yellow color, which turns to a lime green when combined with good old 100LL blue.

Swift Fuels has made all UL94 purple for deliveries after March 3rd. Prior to that date, UL94 fuel was 'water white' and colorless. The color change took some time to work through the bureaucracy, with the ASTM International Fuels, Markings and Dyes task force selecting colors to identify these new additions. The team "began a wholesale reassessment of the aviation fuels used across the globe to identify and rationalize the fuel colors that were assigned but no longer in active use", resulting in 7 colors that could be used for the next generation of fuel. Deactivated fuels included Grade 80, freeing up red; Grade UL82, freeing up purple; Grade UL87, freeing up yellow; with the last two, Grade91 and Grade98, opening up brown for reuse.

"The new Purple UL94 fuel is identical to the prior UL94 fuel in terms of quality and engine performance. Swift Fuels is coordinating postings at local airfields for market awareness, but otherwise the change requires no operational changes by distribution, truck drivers, airport fuel handlers, fire safety or others involved in the supply chain. STC registered pilots will also be receiving free communications from Swift Fuels in the weeks ahead for their individual aircraft as part of our continuing FOREVER Avgas STC program."

FMI: www.swiftfuelsavgas.com