In its latest move to accelerate the transition to unleaded aviation fuel at Long Beach Airport (KLGB) in Southern California, the Long Beach City Council has approved a new subsidy program to offset unleaded fuel costs for general aviation pilots.
“By subsidizing the transition to unleaded fuel, Long Beach Airport is leading the way on this pressing national issue,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We began down this path in October 2022 and we are proud to take this next step. We know this environmental issue is of great concern to our community and we’re proud to play a leading role in enacting change in the aviation industry.”
KLGB is one of only a handful of airports in the nation to offer a financial subsidy to encourage the purchase of unleaded aviation fuel, according to airport officials.
The FAA has set a target for the elimination of leaded aviation fuel for all piston-powered aircraft by the year 2030. In an effort to speed up the transition at the local level, KLGB’s Unleaded Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program is designed to eliminate the cost difference between leaded avgas and unleaded avgas.
“Subsidizing the price difference of unleaded aviation fuel removes one of the major barriers for its widespread adoption,” said Councilman Daryl Supernaw.
Unleaded 94-grade fuel (UL94) from Swift Fuels has been available at Long Beach Airport since August 2023 through Signature Aviation @ Aeroplex. The price of UL94 for aircraft owners can be $2 to $4 more per gallon than leaded 100-grade fuel (100LL). With the new Unleaded Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program, fuel providers will be able to sell unleaded fuel at the same price as 100LL.
“It is envisioned that the cost of unleaded avgas will decrease over time as demand increases,” airport officials said. “The Unleaded Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program will encourage this process.”
Airport staff will begin working with fuel providers to implement the program, with $200,000 in reimbursements available for fuel expenses, covered by airport revenue.
The adoption of the Unleaded Aviation Fuel Subsidy Program follows a series of actions taken by Long Beach Airport to facilitate the move towards unleaded avgas, including the approval by the City Council in November 2023 of a Supplemental Type Certificate fee reimbursement program, which provides up to $300 to aircraft owners to obtain required approval from the FAA before their plane can use unleaded fuel.
Currently, only Swift Fuel’s UL94 STC is eligible for reimbursement, as this is the only available unleaded avgas at KLGB. If other varieties of unleaded avgas become available at KLGB, STCs for those fuels will be eligible for reimbursement, subject to a maximum combined reimbursement of $300.
The reimbursement program applies only to aircraft based at KLGB.
While General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI) has received approval for its G100UL unleaded avgas, it is not yet available at airports.
For more information: LGB.org
Note to editor: Article title is “KLGB launches unleaded fuel subsidy program” …. for us people who don’t know all out airport identifiers please make it “Long Beach Airport launches unleaded fuel subsidy program” next time around. Thank you.
If this airport had used some common sense, it would have embraced inexpensive, plentiful, lead-free mogas decades ago and not only reduced the use of (harmless!) leaded aviation but also lowered the cost of flying to most aircraft owners, since over 70% of all pistons are approved for mogas use, and 100% of all Rotax-powered aircraft, the way of the future. Ethanol may not be pumped in fuel pipelines due to its corrosive nature, so all fuel terminals have ethanol-free fuel. Since however we are dealing with California, they are sure to continue to screw things up. Don’t California my North Carolina!