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The FAA is moving forward with its next steps to develop a next-generation unleaded fuel for piston aircraft. GlobalAir.com has confirmed with the FAA that it will soon start engine test cell testing through its Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) program.A UL 100E fuel developed by LyondellBasell Industries and VP Racing will soon begin flight testing. An FAA spokesperson said this week that the testing will take place at its William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey."The FAA is working with various aircraft equipment manufacturers and operators to support flight testing of a mixed fleet that includes eight different aircraft models of six different makes," a statement released to GlobalAir.com said. "We will also work with engine manufacturers to support testing for 10 different makes (and) models."
The FAA said it will give more details on the manufacturers that will be involved in the testing, and it is finalizing those arrangements over the "next few months."RELATED STORY: Phillips 66 suspends testing on unleaded aviation fuel
The PAFI program, launched by the FAA in 2014, was later folded into the agency's larger EAGLE Initiative that aims to eliminate the use of leaded fuel in aircraft by 2030.
In January, a second fuel developer stepped out of the development program.
Phillips 66 paused the testing of its 100M unleaded aviation fuel developed with Afton Chemical.
An FAA representative told GlobalAir.com that Phillips 66 paused the PAFI evaluation "due to issues encountered during durability testing."
"Phillips 66 is committed to its vision of developing an unleaded aviation fuel offering and is currently evaluating this product's development and all viable alternative options," Al Ortiz, a senior advisor for the company, told GlobalAir.com at the time.
LyondellBasell and VP Racing successfully passed the 150-hour engine durability test phase in November. The FAA did not provide specifics for the duration of the next round of tests.
In September 2022, the FAA approved Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for use of a 100-octane unleaded fuel known as G100UL produced by GAMI in many piston-powered planes.