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FBOs in California are feeling the push from a nine-year-old court ruling to stop selling leaded aviation fuel. A ruling from December 2014 ordered that the many airports operating in the region pay fines, issue warnings over the dangers of leaded avgas, sell avgas with the lowest lead content and once unleaded alternative is commercially available, complete the transition away from leaded fuels. In December 2023, the FBOs were reminded of the ruling as the production of G100UL is more widely available. While the fuel is progressing toward commercialization, many in the aviation community still fear the repercussions of transitioning away from conventional fuel before the time is ready.
On Dec. 10, 2014 the Center for Environmental Health announced it had won a legal agreement with 30 companies that sell and/or distribute leaded avgas at 23 California airports. The CEH called on these companies to provide safer alternative fuels at California airports with some of the highest lead emissions in the country, including Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA). The EPA issued its final ruling in October that lead emissions from aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution and are endangering public health and now many communities are again pushing to limit or end the sale of leaded aviation fuel. CEH's lawyer sent a letter to Signature Aviation on Dec. 18, 2023 to comply with court rulings and begin distributing G100UL on or before March 1, 2024. In September 2022 the FAA approved G100UL for use in all general aviation piston aircraft and the lawyers are asking FBOs to make the switch in early 2024.Introduction in 2011 complaint
GAMI's G100UL unleaded gas can be used after the purchase of a Supplemental Type Certificate. The use of G100UL does not require engine modifications and only requires a placard attachment. The alternative fuel is estimated to be slightly costlier per gallon until it is more widely available but the belief is that the higher fuel price will be offset by lower maintenance costs for the plane. GAMI reports that as fast as production can be ramped up and fuel delivered to airports, G100UL will initially appear in airports in California, Oregon and Washington in Q2 2024. The cost of the STC is dependent on engines and horsepower and is similar pricing to other fuel STCs available for low-octane gasoline. GAMI said the STC should cost as much as one tank of avgas and less in California.
The initial STC with an initial Approved Model List was signed and FAA-approved in July 2021, beginning with one STC for an initial group of aircraft and a separate STC for the corresponding engines. Then AMI received AML STC approval for the G100UL in September 2022, with every spark ignition piston airframe using a spark ignition piston engine in the FAA's database. GAMI is not the only group testing an unleaded alternative and Philipps 66 recently halted the testing of its 100M unlead avgas developed with Afton Chemical while undergoing evaluation under the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative program. GAMI began its process three years before PAFI and there was no mechanism within the program for GAMI to obtain "credit" for its substantial certification work already approved by the FAA, among other reasons.RELATED STORIES:Phillips 66 suspends testing on unleaded aviation fuelEPA determines leaded fuel endangers public health, aviation coalition respondsFrom 100LL to G100UL: What comes next for avgas and why today is historicFAA approves GAMI G100UL for piston aircraft
While G100UL has been FAA-approved, this does not mean the fuel is instantly available at airports around the country. There are still numerous steps in a years-long process to widely distribute the fuel alternative around the nation. GAMI is a small company and is collaborating with large aviation fuel producers to oversee the expansion and widescale production of its unleaded avgas. Avfuel, World Fuel, TITAN and EPIC have all been invited to plan to transport the fuel to FBOs in California. GAMI said that by late July 2023, none of the four distributors had begun arrangements to do so. GAMI has plans to begin moving its fuel to airports in California, Oregon and Washington in Q2 2024 and later expanding to the rest of the country.
GAMI currently predicts the distributers' supply chain and the associated infrastructure will be the only limiting factor to the widespread and rapid deployment of G100UL. Currently identified producers have the capacity in excess of the projected demand and GAMI anticipates the availability of G100UL avgas to be expanded nationally over the coming few years, at a pace determined by market demands and federal/local mandates, or congressional action. At the start of 2024 aircraft operators must buy an STC for each plane operated using G100UL. While the wide distribution of G100UL is getting closer, the elimination of alternative leaded fuel options could be premature.
In 2012, the FAA and EPA created the Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop lead-free solutions and called for an 11-year process to phase in lead-free fuels.
"Eleven years is too long to wait for clean air free from lead poisoning risks," said Caroline Cox, CEH Research Director, after the 2014 court win. "We will continue to monitor the industry and keep the pressure on for safer fuels as quickly as possible."
The industry is in favor of the change but faces a continual battle with local and state governments to allow for a slow, safe transition. Groups like the FAA, AOPA and NATA have worked with the government to find an alternative. Aviation gasoline was produced commercially for the first time in 1936 and has changed immensely in the roughly 88 years since. As the dangers of lead exposure became more apparent, specifically lead poisoning in children, the toxic material was eliminated from many household goods like paint. Lead-based paint was transitioned out of use in the 1970s but the focus on aviation gas did not come until years later. Work began in the 1970s to remove lead from fuel and Japan became the first country to ban leaded gasoline. Other countries followed Japan and the U.S. finalized the phase-out of leaded fuel in 1996, less than 30 years ago.
After the EPA findings, aviation groups spoke out about concerns. While these groups realize the hazards of leaded aviation fuel, most are pushing to stick to the goal of removing lead from aviation fuel by 2030. Many of the aircraft using leaded fuel are smaller-piston engine aircraft and 45-years or older. Jets and commercial aircraft do not use leaded fuel and sustainable aviation fuel alternatives are being tested and used. The EPA said the level of airborne lead in the U.S. has declined 99 percent since 1980 but the emissions caused by planes using leaded fuel are still a concern to many communities surrounding small or GA airports.RELATED STORIES:Long Beach launches subsidy program for unleaded avgasCalifornia county continues fight against sale of leaded avgas, opposes mandate in FAA Reauthorization billFBOs challenge Santa Clara County's move to ban 100LL AvgasSanta Clara County bans 100LL fuel, citing elevated lead levels in local kids
Californian communities have fought back, despite the years of work being done to transition the industry away from leaded fuels. Santa Clara County has endured a years-long battle to ban the sale of 100LL fuel at the Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV) and the San Martin Airport (E16). The county faced repercussions after a 2022 ban when FBOs and pilots voiced concern and the AOPA filed a formal complaint with the FAA. The AOPA claimed that Santa Clara County officials violated federal rules and regulations by prohibiting the sale of 100L and by receiving federal Airport Improvement Program funding, the airport must adhere to certain regulations, like offering leaded fuel to those who need it. The county faced an FAA investigation over alleged grant violations but agreed to participate in the first-ever demonstration to evaluate the best practices for transitioning airports to unleaded fuel, signing a memorandum of understanding with the FAA to suspend the investigation.
Santa Clara County continues to push back on certain mandates now that the FAA's reauthorization is up on the table. The county is still fighting the mandates that require its airports to sell leaded fuel until an alternative is widely available and approved for all aircraft. The reauthorization bill in the House version would require airports to sell the same fuels sold in 2018 and the Senate version requires all fuel types used since 2022 to be available until the end of the decade.
Despite a nearly decade-old court ruling, the industry is apprehensive about jumping to unleaded alternatives. GAMI is close to distributing widely but still anticipates delivery in Q2 of 2024 and this would remain limited as the fuel production grows and more airports are approved to use the alternative, which could still take years. The CEH lawyers are pushing for compliance with the 2014 court ruling as soon as possible, but the alternative they want to replace 100LL is not ready yet. According to AvWeb, GAMI Head of Engineering George Braly said the petroleum company Vitol Aviation is in the process of producing the first large-scale batches of G100UL avgas and should be available for initial deployment in California in the first half of the year. He told the outlet he is unsure what airports will be included in the inaugural sale but noted that several airports have banned the use of leaded avgas and need a higher-octane alternative.