Swift Fuels will introduce its unleaded 94 MON avgas at the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh July 20-26, at the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Working with avgas producers and distributors, Swift Fuels is making plans to supply unleaded 94 MON avgas to select regions in the United States and Canada. The premium quality unleaded fuel, tailored for lower-octane piston-engines, is already FAA certified and meets ASTM standards for aviation gasoline, according to company officials.
The fuel will not replace 100LL now sold at airports for high performance aircraft.
Swift Fuels’ high octane fuels remain part of the Piston Aviation Fuel Initiative (PAFI) program seeking to replace 100LL on a fleet-wide basis.
Swift Fuels officials noted they believe the introduction of a cost-effective unleaded fuel in selected markets helps to begin the ultimate transition.
“Due to the known toxicity of lead, the aviation industry has been in need of an unleaded fuel option for over two decades,” said Chris D’Acosta, CEO of Swift Fuels. “The time for transitioning to unleaded avgas starts now. We are pleased to be offering an affordable, lead-free avgas alternative to the GA community. Swift Fuels, in collaboration with regulators and key stakeholders across the industry, is committed to providing pilots and aircraft owners with a safe, cost-effective, high-performance, environmentally-friendly unleaded fuel for their aircraft.”
As part of its unleaded fuel transition strategy for 94 MON avgas, the company has forged an exclusive partnership with Petersen Aviation to offer new avgas Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for thousands of aircraft that are now compatible with 94 MON avgas.
Swift Fuels and Petersen Aviation have worked with the FAA for approval of the required STCs, which could allow most any class of airplane engine rated 94 motor-octane-number (MON) or lower to use Swift’s fuel. Swift’s team estimates that more than 40% of the existing US aircraft fleet is already qualified with FAA STC’s to fly using its 94 MON aviation gasoline and more are planned soon.
Many piston-engine aircraft with engines that require avgas having a minimum octane rating at or below 94 MON are now eligible to buy the appropriate STC certificates in order to fly the fuel, including:
- Cessna: Skyhawk (172 R&S), Cutlass (172 RGs), Cardinal (177s) and Skylane (182s);
- Piper: Seminole, Comanche and Aztec;
- Beechcraft: Musketeer, Travel Air and Duchess;
- Maule: all Lycoming-powered models;
- Mooney: models A-D and G;
- And many other aircraft models with engines that require avgas rated at or below 94 MON.
Aircraft with autogas STCs are already eligible to use the premium 94 MON avgas “as-is.”
In addition, Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) powered by Rotax engines are typically already manufacturer-approved to use 94 MON avgas “as-is.” Pilots can check with Swift Fuels to verify their unique aircraft requirements.
The Swift Fuels team, along with Todd Petersen, will provide information at Oshkosh about the benefits of its fuel, the avgas STCs, the process of getting airplanes ready for flight (e.g. placards, inspections, training, etc.), airport tankage considerations, and initial plans for fuel distribution. The company will showcase how to purchase STCs and conduct open educational meetings in Booth #461 during the entire show.
I believe that one hindrance to having Swift Fuels at airports that sell Shell Products is those airports have an agreement to not allow sale of non-Shell products. Shell Oil could prevent Swift Fuel from helping our industry. Once again the 1% get in the way of future development. Shell has such a road block. They were developing Unleaded fuel but it is reported that they have stopped.
How you get STC for plane before fuel is available
How do you get an STC FOR YOUR PLANE AHEAD OF FUEL AVAILABILITY
Swift’s 94 is available now at three airports near Swift in Indiana:
§ Brooks Field in Michigan (KRMY)
§ Griffith-Merrillville in Indiana (05C)
§ Andersen Municipal Airport Indiana (KAID)
At those airfields, Swift 94 is selling for around a dollar less than 100LL. Yes it’s only at three airports right now but everything has to start somewhere and that is usually at the beginning.
Hype until the details appear. What “regions of the country” will have the fuel? What does this mean for the cost and availability of 100LL in all adjacent countries where US aircraft fly, and what does it mean for the fuel in the US? I have to agree with Bryan’s assessment. “BS” at this point might be a bit harsh, it’s more like BF (Bull Flatulence).
Conspicuous by its absence was any mention of the price differential per gallon compared to 100LL.
Not a direct replacement if you need an STC, but a good start.
Sounds good, but we have been hearing this for sometime now with no execution. Let me know when it is available at a pump within 100 mm of me . ‘Til then it’s still marketing BS.
This great news. After their rollout at Oshkosh I assume that Swift Fuels will release details to the general public.
Key factors here will be the distribution system and customer acceptance. If Swift Fuels can get their product offered and sold at a reasonable number of active airports, it will increase their visibility. And their success will also depend on the number of aircraft owners who get the STC and actually buy the fuel.
Of course, airports may refuse to provide the fuel, and pilots may refuse to buy it. I hope not.