Gee if only the FAA could have certified unleaded gas some time in the last 3 decades. It’s not like us GA enthusiasts enjoy depending on an expensive leaded gas.
Approved but not available. Believe me, everyone wishes we could just move on from leaded avgas, but it seems like the FAA wants to drag this out as long as possible.
as a diesel engine mechanic ive always figured there was some amazing conspiracy about leaded avgas. Here on the ground, diesel regulations and formulations are basically a yearly theatricality. new scrubbers, new regenerators, fuels you can use and fuels you can never use, and special locations and applications for the fuels if you use them at all. The regulations are pretty rigorously developed and enforced.
I remember conversations about using unleaded gas in aviation 40 years ago. And the pro side's argument is auto grade gasoline is highly regulated with better quality control and standards than leaded aviation gas. And pointed out that cars run just fine at the altitudes light aircraft fly at. SO I hear you on that. It's a bit inane.
If there is a conspiracy I suspect it's the government exerts a light hand on things rich people do.
What surprises me is the refineries didn't tell the light aviation industry they weren't going to make leaded gas anymore. If they'd done that the Feds would have kicked them some cash to develop an unleaded version.
Its not so much a conspiracy as just not as big of an issue compared to diesel consumption
About 11 thousand barrels of 100ll are produced every day in the US. Compare that to 4.9 million barrels of diesel daily, and you can see why it is a bigger priority. In this case 100ll is a literal drop in the bucket.
But also its a rich guy hobby that generally isn't very visible.
If your standard diesel engine fails it’s generally not a life threatening emergency though so change is much safer. Aviation has safety and regulatory habits written in blood.
It sounds like this is setting the stage for the FAA to be forced to make a move...
> the FAA has a statutory mandate to prescribe standards for the composition or chemical or physical properties of an aircraft fuel or fuel additive to control or eliminate aircraft emissions which the EPA has found endanger public health or welfare under section 231(a) of the Clean Air Act. In issuing these final findings, the EPA is making such a finding for emissions of lead from engines in covered aircraft.
The saga of unleaded avgas has been long, expensive, and slightly ridiculous. It's not just FAA - not by itself, although regulatory capture is, of course, a frickin' plague. You had a big ol' mob of aerospace companies racing to lock in their engine designs for the next forever via mandated fuel specifications. This is the Golden Fleece in this industry: if you can get to write the next mandated spec, you can relax on your money bed for the rest of time.
One of my friends that helped me build hours does experimental aircraft and just runs his c172 on 91 unleaded from a highway fuel pump. Pretty sure he has a lycoming IO-360M1A on it. He does have to haul fuel in, however.
American aviation does need an overhaul. I used to fly with some guys out of a private hanger and a few nearby FBOs. Pilots would occasionally grumble about changes made to flight regulations and airport procedures during the 1980’s. Even the most staunch republican would bad mouth Regan for it.
I bought some unleaded AVGAS in 2017 at an airport in Falmouth, MA.
Power tools run much better on it because it contains no ethanol.
My portable generator starts much more easily after sitting for a few months if I use AVGAS instead of what I buy at the pump. It's because the ethanol gums up the carbonator.
JumpCrisscross|2 years ago
[1] https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/september/...
lfuller|2 years ago
FL410|2 years ago
dmitrygr|2 years ago
nimbius|2 years ago
Gibbon1|2 years ago
If there is a conspiracy I suspect it's the government exerts a light hand on things rich people do.
What surprises me is the refineries didn't tell the light aviation industry they weren't going to make leaded gas anymore. If they'd done that the Feds would have kicked them some cash to develop an unleaded version.
dghlsakjg|2 years ago
About 11 thousand barrels of 100ll are produced every day in the US. Compare that to 4.9 million barrels of diesel daily, and you can see why it is a bigger priority. In this case 100ll is a literal drop in the bucket.
But also its a rich guy hobby that generally isn't very visible.
colechristensen|2 years ago
kube-system|2 years ago
> the FAA has a statutory mandate to prescribe standards for the composition or chemical or physical properties of an aircraft fuel or fuel additive to control or eliminate aircraft emissions which the EPA has found endanger public health or welfare under section 231(a) of the Clean Air Act. In issuing these final findings, the EPA is making such a finding for emissions of lead from engines in covered aircraft.
MilStdJunkie|2 years ago
samtho|2 years ago
slowhadoken|2 years ago
gwbas1c|2 years ago
Power tools run much better on it because it contains no ethanol.
My portable generator starts much more easily after sitting for a few months if I use AVGAS instead of what I buy at the pump. It's because the ethanol gums up the carbonator.
unknown|2 years ago
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