The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new plan to safely eliminate the use of leaded fuels by the end of 2030.
«We have been saying for some time that efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of the airline industry require the commitment of all the actors involved in this sector.» In this regard, the FAA emphasized that the work to eradicate leaded fuels «will be based on four pillars of action. Those will involve the FAA, the Environmental Protection Agency, fuel suppliers and distributors, airports, engine and aircraft manufacturers, research institutions, associations, environmental experts, communities, and other key stakeholders».
These four pillars designed to address the issue are:
- Develop unleaded fuel infrastructure and assess commercial viability.
- Support research and development and technology innovations. The FAA and industry stakeholders will support research and testing of piston engine modifications and/or engine upgrades needed for unleaded fuel operations. Technologies aimed at electric/hybrid propulsion systems will also be promoted.
- Continue to evaluate and authorize safe unleaded fuels. The Piston Aviation Fuel Initiative will continue to evaluate, test, and qualify high-octane unleaded aviation fuels. Its goal will be transitioning the fleet to unleaded aviation fuel.
- Establish the necessary policies to promote and support the development and infrastructure for unleaded fuels.
Welcoming the creation of EAGLE, to eliminate emissions from leaded aviation fuels, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce said, «The EAGLE public-private partnership will ensure the coordination of a safe and reliable transition to an unleaded future state for piston-engine aircraft. The GAMA manufacturing and maintenance companies look forward to working with the FAA, industry colleagues, and other stakeholders to bring this challenging and ambitious initiative to fruition.»
As reported by the FAA, «This announcement is part of the ongoing effort to build a sustainable aviation system. In November, the U.S. launched its first comprehensive Aviation Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In early 2021, the FAA announced more than USD 100 million in matching grants to increase aircraft efficiency. As well as to reduce noise and emissions, and develop and implement new software to reduce cab delays.»
