Pilots in the Midwest have received some good news amidst the rising cost of avgas in recent months. Both the Havana Regional Airport (9I0, Havana, Ill.) and the Park Township Airport (HLM, Holland, Mich.) started mogas sales in recent months.
With avgas prices averaging over $6 a gallon across the country, pilots in the Holland area are enjoying relatively inexpensive, 91 AKI ethanol-free, lead free mogas at $4.25. Demand for ethanol-free fuel comes not only from pilots: This article from TulsaWorld describes the newest location of the QuickTrip chain of convenience stores, which features ethanol-free fuel at all 20 of its pumps.
On page 9 of a recent study released by the AOPA on flying clubs, the biggest challenge facing general aviation today is seen as the cost of fuel, far more important to respondents than user fees, costs of aircraft, insurance, training, etc.
Airports that add self-service fuel systems and mogas are responding to this concern.
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., a pilot, homebuilder and expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114.