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The general aviation industry is moving closer to removing lead from aviation fuel as the first unleaded fuel candidate has successfully passed the most rigorous Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative initial detonation and a 150-hour engine durability test phase.
Industry members of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions initiative applauded the news after the FAA issued a statement on Wednesday. The FAA approved the advancement to full-scale engine and flight testing of the unleaded UL100E aviation fuel for piston-engine aircraft that has been developed by LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing. The fuel passed rigorous PAFI testing, a rigorous industry and government testing program, becoming the first unleaded fuel to pass the PAFI 150-hour durability test phase.
"This is another important milestone for a safe General Aviation transition to unleaded fuel and for our goal to eliminate lead emissions by the end of 2030," said Lirio Liu, FAA Executive Director of Aircraft Certification Service and Government Co-Chair of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) government-industry partnership.
LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing's unleaded fuel will move into the PAFI full-scale engine and airframe testing. This next phase of testing consists of ten engines and eight aircraft, expected to take about 12-18 months to complete. Through the PAFI program, the candidates' fuel is tested in numerous phases including the evaluation of toxicology and environmental considerations, material compatibility, engine durability and detonation, and aircraft performance and operability.
The information gathered through the various stages of testing will support the development of an industry consensus ASTM International production specification. After the PAFI testing procedures are complete, the FAA will issue fleet authorization to allow the use of the fuel. The goal of PAFI is to test, not produce, the fuels that will ensure compatibility and safety for the piston-engine aircraft fleet as well as its viability for commercial deployment.
"The LyondellBasell/VP Racing's achievement marks an important waypoint on the path to a more environmentally friendly future for aviation fuel and demonstrates the progress we've made through our government and aviation community partnership," said Curt Castagna, NATA president and industry co-chair of the EAGLE Initiative. "EAGLE celebrates this milestone and looks forward to more opportunities to recognize industry ingenuity and innovation."
On Oct. 18 the EPA released its final determination that the lead emissions from aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health. With this finding, a coalition of aviation organizations provided an immediate response, stating the industry was hard at work eliminating lead from gas by the end of 2030 or sooner. The industry has stressed that the transition can not be completed efficiently or safely without a collaborative effort from industry members and the government. Initiatives like PAFI and EAGLE are part of the joint effort between the government and the aviation industry to remove lead from fuel.RELATED STORIES:NATA President steps in as co-chair of EAGLE InitiativeEPA determines leaded fuel endangers public health, aviation coalition responds
On Oct. 31, NATA announced that its President, Castagna, was stepping in as the co-chair of the EAGLE Initiative and succeeding AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker, who had served as the co-chair since the program began in February 2022. Through the EAGLE Initiative, industry leaders like Castagna and Baker have worked closely with government officials to ensure a safer transition to unleaded fuel. In 2021, General Aviation Modifications, Inc (GAMI) revealed the FAA approved STCs authorizing the use of its G100UL high-octane unleaded gas. Fuel alternatives like the few approved unleaded avgas options and SAF are slowly being introduced at airports across the country.
For general aviation, finding an alternative fuel to work all types of aircraft has been a challenge, with numerous older aircraft engines found to be reliant on leaded fuel to operate. GA industry members of the EAGLE Initiative applaud the success of LyondellBasell Industries/VP Racing's unleaded fuel in the PAFI testing.