Under the Clean Air Act, EPA reviews information on air pollutants and sources of air pollution to determine whether they threaten human health or welfare. This is referred to as an “endangerment finding.” EPA officials said in a Jan. 12, 2022, announcement that the plan is to issue a proposed endangerment finding for piston-engine aircraft that run on leaded fuel in 2022 for public review and comment.
Aviation Fuel
100LL sales end at Reid-Hillview and San Martin airports in California
Santa Clara County, which operates both airports, has banned the sale of 100LL, but officials note that pilots who still fly with leaded fuel can visit the two airports.
NASA taps university students to research eliminating aircraft emissions
“Aviation of the future has to be climate friendly to keep the world flying, and a great way to do that is to allow tomorrow’s top minds to begin making contributions to these goals while still in school.”
FAA investigating ongoing safety issues at Santa Clara County airports, including ban on 100LL
Since the FAA has received multiple complaints from airport tenants and users, along with a group who allege violations of grant assurances at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) and San Martin Airport (E16), the agency is starting an “informal” investigation under 14 CFR part 13 (“Reports of Violations”).
Getting the lead out is just the first step
Most pilots think once they start flying with unleaded fuel, general aviation will no longer be polluting the air. A quick look at the automobile industry and the changes it has had to make show that this is just the beginning.
Rushed decision to ban 100LL at California airports puts safety at risk
A letter sent to FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson from the leaders of GA’s advocacy groups asks the agency to mitigate a California county’s decision to ban 100LL, noting it will “significantly increase the risk of aircraft misfuelling. “Engine failures from misfuellings often occur at critical phases of flight, such as on takeoff and climb out, and NTSB accident reports document the grim outcomes,” the letter reminds the agency’s chief.
A student who doesn’t use checklists plus a broken fuel selector valve leads to engine losing power
I noticed he was very busy on final this last trip around, and it appeared at this time he was switching tanks. I have never instructed him to switch tanks on final before. For some reason, he continues to do things in the airplane that were not taught, or are in direct opposition to what was being taught. Most of them are minor, but fuel is something I’m very passionate about having on board.
GA advocacy groups ask Congress to increase funding for alternative fuels
“We believe the fuels testing program is at a critical juncture and we request the final conference agreement contain a funding level of $10 million,” the GA advocates told Congress. “There is still considerable work to be done to address the environmental and regulatory challenges associated with piston aviation fuels and your support is key to addressing them in a way that does not compromise aviation safety.”
Hundreds more engines approved for unleaded avgas
An Oct. 28, 2021, Approved Model List includes an additional 611 engines approved to use GAMI’s new unleaded avgas.