The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has released “Unleaded Avgas Conversion Considerations for Aviation Fuel Providers,” a white paper developed to educate fuel service providers on best practices for deploying unleaded avgas.
With the recent approval of General Aviation Modification Inc.’s G100UL unleaded avgas, and efforts by Swift Fuels and Shell underway, FBOs have been “proactively seeking information on considerations for offering more environmentally friendly fuel options,” said NATA Managing Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs Megan Eisenstein.
The new guidance, just three pages long, suggests four key phases for fuel providers offering UL avgas in addition to 100LL:
- Discovery, a preliminary phase to help fuel providers decide if there is sufficient demand and regulatory approval for offering unleaded avgas;
- Preliminary Communications, which includes notifying everyone about the availablity of the new fuel, as well as creating a misfueling prevention program;
- Infrastructure Considerations, which includes tips on how to convert existing 100LL tanks so they are suitable for unleaded avgas; and
- Final Communications, which means letting everyone from the FAA to pilots know that unleaded fuel is available at your location.
The Key Concern
Once multiple grades of avgas are available at airports, the key concern becomes the increased risk for misfueling, according to NATA officials.
“It is critical to have a misfueling prevention program in place, and to implement comprehensive management of change processes and perform risk assessments when introducing new fuels,” said Steve Berry, NATA Managing Director of Safety and Training. “Keeping lines of communication open between pilots and FBOs throughout the fueling process is also essential.”
NATA, through its Safety 1st program, provides free misfueling prevention training and resources at PreventMisfueling.com. Officials note the association will soon release a new version of this training, highlighting unleaded fuel.
You can read the White Paper here.
Don’t worry, the Government is here to help…! What could possibly go wrong!
When I had a C-172 with a Mogas STC, I had to carry the STC in the aircraft and present it if requested by an FBO. Is the GAMI 100UL STC going to have to be carried in the aircraft at all times and presented to an FBO if requested? What will happen to airplanes, say a C-172, that doesn”t have the STC if they fuel up on 100UL because it is the only fuel available on a x-country? I have a homebuilt and I determine if my engine can use 100UL, but I won’t have an STC from GAMI. What if an FBO asks to see a 100UL STC from GAMI and doesn’t understand my answer?
It’s a drop in replacement.
What’s the big deal?
Your govt in action.
I read that GAMI has received FAA approval for their unleaded fuel to be used in all existing piston aircraft and engines. Given that, why is there a concern about misfueling?
I’m wondering the same thing…