WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of its ongoing efforts to develop an unleaded fuel for general aviation airplanes, the FAA has selected two unleaded fuels for further testing. “Small aircraft are the only mode of transportation that still relies on leaded fuel. We’re committed to finding safe fuels that benefit the environment and our general aviation community from this transportation source,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
Fuel formulations from Shell and Swift Fuels were selected for Phase 2 engine and aircraft testing. Test data will help the companies obtain an ASTM International Production Specification for their fuels and allow the FAA to authorize the existing GA fleet to use the unleaded replacement fuels. Testing will begin this summer and conclude in 2018, according to FAA officials.
The Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI), a government and industry partnership, is facilitating the development and deployment of a new unleaded aviation fuel that can be readily available across the GA fleet. Congress appropriated $7 million for the fiscal year 2016 budget to support the PAFI test program at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center.
“Government and industry are successfully working together to lower aviation emissions. We’re on track to have unleaded aviation gasoline fully evaluated and ready to be authorized for use by the general aviation fleet in 2018,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
In June 2013 the FAA asked fuel producers to submit their replacement fuel proposals for evaluation. By July 2014, the agency received 17 formulations from six companies. Fuels were assessed in terms of their impact on the existing fleet, the production and distribution infrastructure, the impact on the environment, toxicology, and the cost of aircraft operations. In September 2014, the FAA accepted four fuel formulations into the PAFI Phase 1 test program: Two from Swift, one from Shell and one from TOTAL.
Phase 1 testing of the four candidate fuels concluded in December 2015. It included basic fit-for-purpose and chemical property laboratory evaluations, six rig tests, materials compatibility testing, engine testing, and a literature study that evaluated the chemical components of the fuels to obtain information on their toxicity and environmental impact.
The companies then used the Phase 1 data to update the feasibility assessments that they submitted with their original proposals to assess the impact of their fuel on the current GA fleet of engines and aircraft, including the number and extent of aircraft modifications. They also examined production and distribution costs and environmental factors.
The FAA reviewed the Phase 1 PAFI data and the updated feasibility assessments, and then selected the two fuels which would have the least impact on the GA fleet and on the fuel production and distribution infrastructure.
Approximately 167,000 GA aircraft in the U.S. rely on 100 octane low-lead aviation gasoline for safe operation. The small quantity of lead in the fuel creates the high octane levels needed for high-performance aircraft.
Not only is this announcement almost 60 days overdue, it is rife with misinformation. For instance, two fuels were supposed to be selected for Phase 2 testing. Oddly, Swift Fuels submitted two fuels for Phase I testing. This announcement states, “Fuel formulations from Shell and Swift Fuels were selected for Phase 2 engine and aircraft testing.” So, which of the two Swift Fuels formulations was selected? Or were both of them selected for further testing? If that were the case, it would mean that there was only one loser, Total.
Then there is this statement, which is totally ludicrous: “Approximately 167,000 GA aircraft in the U.S. currently rely on 100 octane low-lead aviation gasoline for safe operation.” Even if one conceded that there are 167,000 GA aircraft, which is probably an overstatement, less than 20% of them “… rely on 100 octane low-lead aviation gasoline for safe operation.” As tens of thousands of mogas STCs prove and studies like this one show, http://generalaviationnews.com/2012/07/12/new-study-shows-autogas-can-power-80-of-piston-aircraft/, the majority of GA Aircraft can fly on the currently approved unleaded avgas: auto fuel meeting the ASTM D4814 specification if only it was available on our airports.
Absolutely,I fully agree, however no-one that matters will listen, or read this.
At first I was excited cause we’re now one step closer to having more eco-friendly avgas to go along with bio-deisel. But then I read that Shell (a major oils CO.) was on the list of finalist; since then, I come to the conclusion that the company is b]probably going to get the contract in the end (probably had it in the bag since it’s entrance to the project).
Great!…what was once a prospective initiative for going green is now yet another Gov. handout to Corporate America.