Alternative Unleaded Fuels for General Aviation Piston Airplanes: A Pathway to Sustainability
Presentation Type
Long presentation (faculty/staff) 15-20 minutes
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Faculty
Faculty/Staff Department
Aeronautical Science
Presentation Description/Abstract
This study examines the transition from leaded 100 low lead (100LL) aviation gasoline to unleaded alternatives in general aviation (GA) piston-engine aircraft, driven by environmental and health concerns highlighted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding. Through a systematic literature review and synthesis, it identifies key unleaded fuel candidates, including 91UL, 94UL (Swift UL94), Auto Gas (Mogas), General Aviation Modification Inc. (GAMI) G100UL, Swift 100R, and LyondellBasell/VP Racing UL100E, evaluating their status, compatibility, advantages, and challenges. The analysis addresses regulatory efforts such as the FAA's Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative aiming for a lead-free system by 2030, alongside technical, economic, liability, and distribution hurdles. Findings emphasize GAMI G100UL and Swift 100R as promising drop-in replacements for both low- and high-compression engines, underscoring the need for industry collaboration to ensure safety, sustainability, and operational viability in GA for decades to come.
Keywords
General aviation, unleaded fuels, 100LL, Avgas, lead emissions, EAGLE initiative, GAMI G100UL, Swift 100R, FAA certification, environmental impact, piston engines, fuel transition, sustainability.
Alternative Unleaded Fuels for General Aviation Piston Airplanes: A Pathway to Sustainability
This study examines the transition from leaded 100 low lead (100LL) aviation gasoline to unleaded alternatives in general aviation (GA) piston-engine aircraft, driven by environmental and health concerns highlighted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding. Through a systematic literature review and synthesis, it identifies key unleaded fuel candidates, including 91UL, 94UL (Swift UL94), Auto Gas (Mogas), General Aviation Modification Inc. (GAMI) G100UL, Swift 100R, and LyondellBasell/VP Racing UL100E, evaluating their status, compatibility, advantages, and challenges. The analysis addresses regulatory efforts such as the FAA's Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative aiming for a lead-free system by 2030, alongside technical, economic, liability, and distribution hurdles. Findings emphasize GAMI G100UL and Swift 100R as promising drop-in replacements for both low- and high-compression engines, underscoring the need for industry collaboration to ensure safety, sustainability, and operational viability in GA for decades to come.