Question 1

What are some examples of current and anticipated barriers and challenges to achieve a full and complete transition to unleaded fuel? How is industry working to navigate those barriers?

Eagle · Accepted Answer

One challenge is a limited fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure at airports. FAA encourages airports and/or FBOs to take enabling actions, such as installing an additional tank or leveraging a spare tank to store/dispense unleaded fuel while maintaining 100LL through the transition period. Given the relatively low avgas demand, the costs to add an additional tank may be prohibitive.

Another challenge is the lack of understanding of the pathways to authorize fuels. Industry stakeholders need an understanding that any new fuels must meet the needs of aircraft owners and are compatible with production, distribution and dispensing systems. To learn more about these pathways, visit flyEAGLE.org.

A small percentage of the current aircraft fleet may require modifications either to their operating limitations or the hardware to allow safe use of unleaded fuels. This is being addressed via the Research, Development, and Innovation and the Unleaded Fuel Evaluation and Authorization pillars of EAGLE. To learn more, please reference UAT ARC Final Report – Part I Body, various parts of Section III and FAA UAT ARC Final Report Part II Appendicies.

Question 2

What are some examples of current and anticipated barriers and challenges to achieve a full and complete transition to unleaded fuel? How is industry working to navigate those barriers?

Eagle · Accepted Answer

One challenge is a limited fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure at airports. FAA encourages airports and/or FBOs to take enabling actions, such as installing an additional tank or leveraging a spare tank to store/dispense unleaded fuel while maintaining 100LL through the transition period. Given the relatively low avgas demand, the costs to add an additional tank may be prohibitive.

Another challenge is the lack of understanding of the pathways to authorize fuels. Industry stakeholders need an understanding that any new fuels must meet the needs of aircraft owners and are compatible with production, distribution and dispensing systems. To learn more about these pathways, visit flyEAGLE.org.

A small percentage of the current aircraft fleet may require modifications either to their operating limitations or the hardware to allow safe use of unleaded fuels. This is being addressed via the Research, Development, and Innovation and the Unleaded Fuel Evaluation and Authorization pillars of EAGLE. To learn more, please reference UAT ARC Final Report – Part I Body, various parts of Section III and FAA UAT ARC Final Report Part II Appendicies.