Pilots in east-central Georgia have reason to fly more in 2013 since the East Georgia Regional Airport (SBO) in Swainsboro added mogas recently.
Contrary to claims from Michael France, director of regulatory affairs for the corporate FBO lobby NATA, that “fuel suppliers believe the market does not support the costs associated with making mogas or any other fuel available alongside 100LL avgas,” the cost of adding a second fuel option for piston planes was not a factor at Swainsboro, an airport where fewer than a dozen aircraft are currently based.
Robert Barker, manager of the airport’s FBO, AirStar Flight Support, explains the reason for the change: “We had watched our fuel sales decrease as fuel prices went up. We were approached by several local pilots about adding mogas as an alternative. I researched the fuel and decided to add it to see what kind of response we get from the aviation community. We look forward to having it available and welcome new customers to stop in and visit.”
SBO now offers all three aviation fuels, mogas, avgas and Jet-A from self-service fuel systems. The current price of mogas there is $4.25, sure to result in area pilots flying more and the airport becoming a popular place to top-off during cross-country flights in the Southeast.
You’ll find East Georgia Regional included on GAfuel blogger Dean Billing’s list and map of airports offering mogas.
Businesses are there to make money. If enough customers ask for it and then buy it the business will sell it. But asking and then not buying will not result in a dependable supply of mogas.
I am not sure. I didn’t worry because I used it in my O-300 powered 172 and the 85 HP Champ.
So it wasn’t a concern.
Rackham Service Corp
112 Audley St La Porte IN 46350
219-362-2111
is or was the supplier.
I bet they would know.
Rich
When we stopped selling 80 octane fuel way back when we put the pump to use vending alcohol free mogas.
The convenience of having it available on the field deters most people from carrying it in in 5 gallon cans.
Many aircraft come from miles around to get clean alcohol free mogas at KPPO in the NW corner of Indiana.
No lead in the fuel and I have never had lead in a spark plug while using alcohol free mogas.
Thanks Rich. What is the AKI level of your Mogas? We have it listed as 87. Any chance you can get 91+, which is what the high-performance STCs and most modern engines designed for mogas need.
Rich says:
February 22, 2013 at 9:39 am
I am not sure. I didn’t worry because I used it in my O-300 powered 172 and the 85 HP Champ.
So it wasn’t a concern.
Rackham Service Corp
112 Audley St La Porte IN 46350
219-362-2111
is or was the supplier.
I bet they would know.
Rich