FAA Picks Unleaded Finalists

Selecting a replacement fuel for 100LL is a critical step in the process of maintaining the viability of the GA fleet. Aviation fuel is alone in containing lead, which it uses to develop the high octane ratings needed by high-performance gas piston engines. There are numerous approvals that allow lower-hp aviation engines to operate on unleaded auto fuels, which thousands have been doing for many years now.

Because the goal is to have a single aviation fuel, that fuel has to be compatible with high-powered engines. The creation of a 100 octane unleaded fuel, therefore, is the holy grail of the project, and one that critics argued for years was an unachievable goal. The progress of the FAA's PAFI program tells a different tale. FAA administrator Michael Huerta says the agency will approve a 100 UL aviation fuel by 2018, a goal, which, if achieved, will represent a laudable success for the FAA, not to mention the winner of the competition.

It remains to be seen, though, just how the economics of the process will affect aircraft owners. Will the replacement fuel be comparable in price and performance to 100 low-lead? Will it be universally available? Will it allow FBOs to use their existing tanks and pumps and trucks to deliver that fuel to the consumer? At this point the details behind the test program are bit murky---why did Shell's and Swift Fuels' formulations win? What were the sticking points for other entrants? Will the finalist fuels be drop-in replacements?

These are all questions that await answers. Read Plane & Pilot's story on the background of the program, which also explores the potential outcomes for aircraft owners like us: http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/the-100ul-future/