Avgas

Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK) is an aviation fuel used in spark-ignited internal-combustion engines to propel aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas (motor gasoline), which is the everyday gasoline used in motor vehicles and some light aircraft. Unlike mogas, which has been formulated since the 1970s to allow the use of platinum-content catalytic converters for pollution reduction, the most commonly used grades of avgas still contain tetraethyllead (TEL), a toxic substance used to prevent engine knocking (detonation), with ongoing experiments aimed at eventually reducing or eliminating the use of TEL in aviation gasoline.

An American Aviation AA-1 Yankee being refueled with 100LL avgas

Turbine engines are designed to use kerosene-based jet fuel. Kerosene is also used by most diesel piston engines developed for aviation use, such as those by SMA Engines, Austro Engine, and Thielert.

Properties

The main petroleum component used in blending avgas is alkylate, which is essentially a mixture of various isooctanes. Some refineries also use reformate. All grades of avgas that meet CAN 2–3, 25-M82 have a density of 6.01 pounds per US gallon (720 g/l) at 15 °C (59 °F). (6 lb/U.S. gal is commonly used in America for weight and balance computation.)[1] Density increases to 6.41 pounds per US gallon (768 g/l) at −40 °C (−40 °F), and decreases by about 0.1% per 1 °C (1.8 °F) increase in temperature.[2][3] Avgas has an emission coefficient (or factor) of 18.355 pounds per US gallon (2.1994 kg/l) of CO2[4][5] or about 3.05 units of weight CO
2
produced per unit weight of fuel used. Avgas has a lower and more uniform vapor pressure than automotive gasoline so it remains in the liquid state despite the reduced atmospheric pressure at high altitude, thus preventing vapor lock.

The particular mixtures in use today are the same as when they were first developed in the 1940s, and were used in airline and military aero engines with high levels of supercharging; notably the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine used in the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters, Mosquito fighter-bomber and Lancaster heavy bomber (the Merlin II and later versions required 100-octane fuel), as well as US-made liquid-cooled Allison V-1710 engines, and numerous radial engines from Pratt & Whitney, Wright, and other manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic. The high octane ratings were traditionally achieved by the addition of tetraethyllead, a highly toxic substance that was phased out of automotive use in most countries in the late 20th century.

Leaded avgas is currently available in several grades with differing maximum lead concentrations. (Unleaded avgas is also available.) Because tetraethyllead is an expensive and polluting ingredient, in leaded avgas the minimum amount needed to bring the fuel to the required octane rating is used; actual concentrations are often lower than the permissible maximum. Historically, many post-WWII developed, low-powered 4- and 6-cylinder piston aircraft engines were designed to use leaded fuels; a suitable unleaded replacement fuel has not yet been developed and certified for most of these engines. Some certificated reciprocating-engine aircraft still require leaded fuels, but some do not, and some can burn unleaded gasoline if a special oil additive is used.

Lycoming provides a list of engines and fuels that are compatible with them. According to their August 2017 chart, a number of their engines are compatible with unleaded fuel. However, all of their engines require that an oil additive be used when unleaded fuel is used: "When using the unleaded fuels identified in Table 1, Lycoming oil additive P/N LW-16702, or an equivalent finished product such as Aeroshell 15W-50, must be used."[6] Lycoming also notes that the octane rating of the fuel used must also meet the requirements stated in the fuel specification, otherwise engine damage may occur due to detonation.

Meanwhile, Teledyne Continental Motors indicates (in document X30548R3 most recently revised in 2008) that leaded avgas is required in their engines: "Current aircraft engines feature valve gear components which are designed for compatibility with the leaded ASTM D910 fuels. In such fuels, the lead acts as a lubricant, coating the contact areas between the valve, guide, and seat. The use of unleaded auto fuels with engines designed for leaded fuels can result in excessive exhaust valve seat wear due to the lack of lead. The result can be remarkable, with cylinder performance deteriorating to unacceptable levels in under 10 hours."[7]

Jet fuel is similar to kerosene and is used in turbine engines; it is not avgas. Confusion can be caused by the terms Avtur and AvJet being used for jet fuel. In Europe, environmental and cost considerations have led to increasing numbers of aircraft being fitted with fuel-efficient diesel engines that run on jet fuel. Civilian aircraft use Jet-A, Jet-A1, or in severely cold climates Jet-B. There are other classification systems for military turbine fuel and diesel fuel.

Consumption

The annual US usage of avgas was 186 million US gallons (700,000 m3) in 2008, and was approximately 0.14% of the motor gasoline consumption. From 1983 through 2008, US usage of avgas declined consistently by approximately 7.5 million US gallons (28,000 m3) each year.[8]

As of 2008, the main consumers of avgas are in North America, Australia, Brazil, and Africa (mainly South Africa). Care must be taken by small airplane pilots to select airports with avgas on flight planning. For example, US and Japanese recreational pilots ship and depot avgas before flying into Siberia. Shrinking availability of avgas drives usage of small airplane engines that can use jet fuel.

In Europe, avgas remains the most common piston-engine fuel. However, prices are so high that there have been efforts to convert to diesel fuel, which is common, inexpensive, and has advantages for aviation use.[9]

Grades

Many grades of avgas are identified by two numbers associated with its Motor Octane Number (MON).[10] The first number indicates the octane rating of the fuel tested to "aviation lean" standards, which is similar to the anti-knock index or "pump rating" given to automotive gasoline in the US. The second number indicates the octane rating of the fuel tested to the "aviation rich" standard, which tries to simulate a supercharged condition with a rich mixture, elevated temperatures, and a high manifold pressure. For example, 100/130 avgas has an octane rating of 100 at the lean settings usually used for cruising and 130 at the rich settings used for take-off and other full-power conditions.[11]

Additives such as TEL help to control detonation and provide lubrication. One gram of TEL contains 640.6 milligrams of lead.

Table of aviation fuel grades
Grade Colour (Dye) Lead (Pb) content maximum (g/L) Additives Uses Availability
80/87 ("avgas 80") red
(red + a little blue)
0.14 TEL It was used in engines with low compression ratio. Phased out in the late 20th century. Its availability is very limited.
82UL purple
(red + blue)
0 ASTM D6227; similar to automobile gasoline but without automotive additives As of 2008, 82UL is not being produced and no refiner has announced plans to put it into production.[12][13]
85UL none 0 oxygenate-free Used to power piston-engine ultralight aircraft.
Motor Octane Number min 85. Research Octane Number min 95.[14]
91/96 brown[15]
(orange + blue + red)
almost negligible TEL Made particularly for military use.
91/96UL none 0 ethanol-free, antioxidant and antistatic additives;[16] ASTM D7547 In 1991, Hjelmco Oil introduced unleaded avgas 91/96UL (also meeting leaded grade 91/98 standard ASTM D910 with the exception of transparent colour) and no lead in Sweden. Engine manufacturers Teledyne Continental Motors, Textron Lycoming, Rotax, and radial engine manufacturer Kalisz have cleared the Hjelmco avgas 91/96UL which in practice means that the fuel can be used in more than 90% of the piston aircraft fleet worldwide.[17][18][19][20] May be used in Rotax engines,[21] and Lycoming engines per SI1070R.[22] In November 2010, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) cleared this fuel for all aircraft where the aircraft engine manufacturer has approved this fuel, based on about 20 years of trouble-free operations with unleaded avgas 91/96UL produced by Hjelmco Oil.[23]
B91/115 green
(yellow + blue)
1.60 TEL; see standard GOST 1012-72.[24] Specially formulated for Shvetsov ASh-62 and Ivchenko AI-14 – nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engines. The Commonwealth of Independent States, produced exclusively by OBR PR.
100LL blue 0.56[15] TEL
As of January 2010, 100LL has a maximum of 0.56 grams of lead (.875 gr of TEL)[25] per Litre.
Most commonly used aviation gasoline. Common in North America and western Europe, limited availability elsewhere worldwide.
100/130 green
(yellow + blue)
1.12 TEL Mostly replaced by 100LL. As of August 2013, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and the states of Hawaii and Utah in the United States.
G100UL none 0 aromatic compounds such as xylene or mesitylene Composed primarily of aviation alkylate (same as used for 100LL). As of August 2013, limited quantities are produced for testing.
UL102 none 0 n/a Swift Fuels LLC blend of 83% mesitylene, 17% isopentane Limited quantities are produced for testing.
115/145 ("avgas 115") purple
(red + blue)
1.29[26] TEL Originally used as primary fuel for the largest, boost-supercharged radial engines needing this fuel's anti-detonation properties.[27] Limited batches are produced for special events such as unlimited air races.

100LL (blue)

Taking a fuel sample from an under-wing drain using a GATS Jar fuel sampler. The blue dye indicates that this fuel is 100LL.

100LL (pronounced "one hundred low lead") may contain a maximum of one-half the TEL allowed in 100/130 (green) avgas and pre-1975 premium leaded automotive gasoline.[15][28]

Some of the lower-powered (100–150 horsepower or 75–112 kilowatts) aviation engines that were developed in the late 1990s are designed to run on unleaded fuel and on 100LL, an example being the Rotax 912.[17]

Automotive gasoline

An EAA Cessna 150 used for American STC certification of auto fuel

Automotive gasoline – known as mogas or autogas among aviators – that does not contain ethanol may be used in certified aircraft that have a Supplemental Type Certificate for automotive gasoline, as well as in experimental aircraft and ultralight aircraft. Some oxygenates other than ethanol are approved. Most of these applicable aircraft have low-compression engines which were originally certified to run on 80/87 avgas and require only "regular" 87 anti-knock index automotive gasoline. Examples include the popular Cessna 172 Skyhawk or Piper Cherokee with the 150 hp (110 kW) variant of the Lycoming O-320.

Some aircraft engines were originally certified using a 91/96 avgas and have STCs available to run "premium" 91 anti-knock index (AKI) automotive gasoline. Examples include some Cherokees with the 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320 or 180 hp (130 kW) O-360, or the Cessna 152 with the O-235. The AKI rating of typical automotive fuel might not directly correspond to the 91/96 avgas used to certify engines, as motor vehicle pumps in the US use the so-called "(R + M)/2" averaged motor vehicle octane rating system as posted on gas station pumps. Sensitivity is roughly 8–10 points, meaning that a 91 AKI fuel might have a MON of as low as 86. The extensive testing process required to obtain an STC for the engine/airframe combination helps ensure that for those eligible aircraft, 91 AKI fuel provides sufficient detonation margin under normal conditions.

Automotive gasoline is not a fully viable replacement for avgas in many aircraft, because many high-performance and/or turbocharged airplane engines require 100 octane fuel and modifications are necessary in order to use lower-octane fuel.[29][30]

Many general aviation aircraft engines were designed to run on 80/87 octane, roughly the standard (as unleaded fuel only, with the "{R+M}/2" 87 octane rating) for North American automobiles today. Direct conversions to run on automotive fuel are fairly common, by supplemental type certificate (STC). However, the alloys used in aviation engine construction are chosen for their durability and synergistic relationship with the protective features of lead, and engine wear in the valves is a potential problem on automotive gasoline conversions.

Fortunately, significant history of engines converted to mogas has shown that very few engine problems are caused by automotive gasoline. A larger problem stems from the higher and wider range of allowable vapor pressures found in automotive gasoline; this can pose some risk to aviation users if fuel system design considerations are not taken into account. Automotive gasoline can vaporize in fuel lines, causing a vapor lock (a bubble in the line) or fuel pump cavitation, thereby starving the engine of fuel. This does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle, but merely requires examination of the fuel system, ensuring adequate shielding from high temperatures and maintaining sufficient pressure in the fuel lines. This is the main reason why both the specific engine model as well as the aircraft in which it is installed must be supplementally certified for the conversion. A good example of this is the Piper Cherokee with high-compression 160 or 180 hp (120 or 130 kW) engines. Only later versions of the airframe with different engine cowling and exhaust arrangements are applicable for the automotive fuel STC, and even then require fuel-system modifications.

Vapor lock typically occurs in fuel systems where a mechanically-driven fuel pump mounted on the engine draws fuel from a tank mounted lower than the pump. The reduced pressure in the line can cause the more volatile components in automotive gasoline to flash into vapor, forming bubbles in the fuel line and interrupting fuel flow. If an electric boost pump is mounted in the fuel tank to push fuel toward the engine, as is common practice in fuel-injected automobiles, the fuel pressure in the lines is maintained above ambient pressure, preventing bubble formation. Likewise, if the fuel tank is mounted above the engine and fuel flows primarily due to gravity, as in a high-wing airplane, vapor lock cannot occur, using either aviation or automotive fuels. Fuel-injected engines in automobiles also usually have a "fuel return" line to send unused fuel back to the tank, which has the benefit of equalizing the fuel's temperature throughout the system, further reducing the chance of vapor lock developing.

In addition to vapor locking potential, automotive gasoline does not have the same quality tracking as aviation gasoline. To help solve this problem, the specification for an aviation fuel known as 82UL was developed as essentially automotive gasoline with additional quality tracking and restrictions on permissible additives. This fuel is not currently in production and no refiners have committed to producing it.[13]

Gasohol

Rotax allows up to 10% ethanol (similar to E10 fuel for cars) in the fuel for Rotax 912 engines. Light sport aircraft that are specified by the manufacturer to tolerate alcohol in the fuel system can use up to 10% ethanol.[17]

Fuel dyes

Fuel dyes aid ground crew and pilots in identifying and distinguishing the fuel grades[12] and most are specified by ASTM D910 or other standards.[15] Dyes for the fuel are required in some countries.[31]

Table of aviation fuel dyes
Dye (nominal colour) chemical
blue alkyl derivatives of 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone, like Oil Blue A and Oil Blue 35
yellow p-diethylaminoazobenzene or 1,3-benzenediol, 2,4-bis [(alkylphenyl)azo-]
red alkyl derivatives of azobenzene-4-azo-2-naphthol
orange benzene-azo-2-napthol

Phase-out of leaded aviation gasoline

The 100LL phase-out has been called "one of modern GA's most pressing problems",[32] because 70% of 100LL aviation fuel is used by the 30% of the aircraft in the general aviation fleet that cannot use any of the existing alternatives.[33][34][35]

In February 2008, Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) announced that the company is very concerned about future availability of 100LL, and as a result, they would develop a line of diesel engines.[36] In a February 2008 interview, TCM president Rhett Ross indicated belief that the aviation industry will be "forced out" of using 100LL in the near future, leaving automotive fuel and jet fuel as the only alternatives. In May 2010, TCM announced that they had licensed development of the SMA SR305 diesel engine.[37][38][39]

In November 2008, National Air Transportation Association president Jim Coyne indicated that the environmental impact of aviation is expected to be a big issue over the next few years and will result in the phasing out of 100LL because of its lead content.[40]

By May 2012, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA Unleaded Avgas Transition rulemaking committee) had put together a plan in conjunction with industry to replace leaded avgas with an unleaded alternative within 11 years. Given the progress already made on 100SF and G100UL, the replacement time might be shorter than that 2023 estimate. Each candidate fuel must meet a checklist of 12 fuel specification parameters and 4 distribution and storage parameters. The FAA has requested a maximum of US$60M to fund the administration of the changeover.[41][42] In July 2014, nine companies and consortiums submitted proposals to the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) to assess fuels without tetraethyl lead. Phase one testing is performed at the William J. Hughes Technical Center for a FAA approved industry replacement by 2018.[43]

New unleaded fuel grades

93UL (Ethanol-free 93AKI automotive gasoline)

The firm Airworthy AutoGas tested an ethanol-free 93 anti-knock index (AKI) premium auto gas on a Lycoming O-360-A4M in 2013. The fuel is certified under Lycoming Service Instruction 1070 and ASTM D4814.[44]

UL94 (formerly 94UL)

Unleaded 94 Motor octane fuel (UL94) is essentially 100LL without the lead. In March 2009, Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) announced they had tested a 94UL fuel that might be the best replacement for 100LL. This 94UL meets the avgas specification including vapor pressure but has not been completely tested for detonation qualities in all Continental engines or under all conditions. Flight testing has been conducted in an IO-550-B powering a Beechcraft Bonanza and ground testing in Continental O-200, 240, O-470, and O-520 engines. In May 2010, TCM indicated that despite industry skepticism, they are proceeding with 94UL and that certification is expected in mid-2013.[45][46]

In June 2010, Lycoming Engines indicated their opposition to 94UL. Company general manager Michael Kraft stated that aircraft owners do not realize how much performance would be lost with 94UL and characterized the decision to pursue 94UL as a mistake that could cost the aviation industry billions in lost business. Lycoming believes the industry should be pursuing 100UL instead. The Lycoming position is supported by aircraft type clubs representing owners of aircraft that would be unable to run on lower octane fuel. In June 2010, clubs such as the American Bonanza Society, the Malibu Mirage Owners and Pilots Association, and the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association collectively formed the Clean 100 Octane Coalition to represent them on this issue and push for unleaded 100 octane avgas.[47][48][49][50]

In November 2015, UL94 was added as a secondary grade of unleaded aviation gasoline to ASTM D7547, which is the specification that governs UL91 unleaded avgas. UL91 is currently being sold in Europe. UL94 meets all of the same specification property limits as 100LL with the exception of a lower Motor octane number (94.0 minimum for UL94 vs. 99.6 minimum for 100LL) and a decreased maximum lead content. UL94 is an unleaded fuel, but as with all ASTM International unleaded gasoline specifications, a de minimis amount of unintentionally added lead is permitted.[51]

Since May 2016, UL94, now a product of Swift Fuels, is available for sale at dozens of US airports. Swift Fuels has an agreement for distribution in Europe.[52][53][54]

UL94 is not intended to be a full replacement for 100LL but rather is designed to be a drop-in replacement for aircraft with lower-octane-rated engines, such as those that are approved for operation on Grade 80 avgas (or lower), UL91, or mogas. It is estimated that up to 65% of the fleet of current general aviation piston-engine-powered aircraft can operate on UL94 with no modifications to either the engine or airframe. Some aircraft, however, do require a FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to be purchased to allow for operation on UL94.[53][55][56]

UL94 has a minimum Motor octane number (MON, which is the octane rating employed for grading aviation gasoline) of 94.0. 100LL has a minimum MON of 99.6.[15][51]

AKI is the octane rating used to grade all U.S. automotive gasoline (typical values at the pump can include 87, 89, 91, and 93), and also the 93UL fuel from Airworthy AutoGas.

The minimum AKI of UL94, as sold by Swift Fuels, is 98.0.

Concurrent with the addition of UL94 to ASTM D7547, the FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) HQ-16-05, which states that "UL94 meets the operating limitations or aircraft and engines approved to operate with grade UL91 avgas," meaning that "Grade UL94 avgas that meets specification D7547 is acceptable to use on those aircraft and engines that are approved to operate with...grade UL91 avgas that meets specification D7547."[57] In August 2016, the FAA revised SAIB HQ-16-05 to include similar wording regarding the acceptability of using UL94 in aircraft and engines that are approved to operate with avgas that has a minimum Motor octane rating of 80 or lower, including Grade 80/87.[58]

The publication of the SAIB, especially the August 2016 revision, eliminated the need for many of the UL94 STCs being sold by Swift Fuels, as the majority of the aircraft on the STC's Approved Model List are type-certified to use 80-octane or lower avgas.

On April 6, 2017, Lycoming Engines published Service Instruction 1070V, which adds UL94 as an approved grade of fuel for dozens of engine models, 60% of which are carbureted engines. Engines with displacements of 235, 320, 360, and 540 cubic inches make up almost 90% of the models approved for UL94.[59]

UL102 (formerly 100SF Swift Fuel)

Purdue University Cessna 150M Swift Fuel demonstrator

Swift Fuels, LLC has attained approval to produce fuel for testing at its pilot plant in Indiana. Composed of approximately 85% mesitylene and 15% isopentane, the fuel is reportedly scheduled for extensive testing by the FAA to receive certification under the new ASTM D7719 guideline for unleaded 100LL replacement fuels. The company eventually intends to produce the fuel from renewable biomass feedstocks, and aims to produce something competitive in price with 100LL and currently available alternative fuels. Swift Fuels suggests that the fuel, formerly referred to as 100SF, will be available for "high performance piston-powered aircraft" before 2020[52]

John and Mary-Louise Rusek founded Swift Enterprises in 2001 to develop renewable fuels and hydrogen fuel cells. They began testing "Swift 142" in 2006[60] and patented several alternatives for non-alcohol based fuels which can be derived from biomass fermentation.[61] Over the next several years, the company sought to build a pilot plant to produce enough fuel for larger-scale testing[62][63] and submitted fuel to the FAA for testing.[64][65][66][67]

In 2008, an article by technology writer and aviation enthusiast Robert X. Cringely attracted popular attention to the fuel,[68] as also did a cross-country Swift-Fueled flight by the AOPA's Dave Hirschman.[69] Swift Enterprises' claims that the fuel could eventually be manufactured much more cheaply than 100LL have been debated in the aviation press.[64][70][71][72][73][74][75]

The FAA found Swift Fuel to have a motor octane number of 104.4, 96.3% of the energy per unit of mass, and 113% of the energy per unit of volume as 100LL, and to meet most of the ASTM D910 standard for leaded aviation fuel. Following tests in two Lycoming engines, the FAA concluded it performs better than 100LL in detonation testing and will provide a fuel saving of 8% per unit of volume, though it weighs 1 pound per US gallon (120 g/l) more than 100LL. GC–FID testing showed the fuel to be made primarily of two components — one about 85% by weight and the other about 14% by weight.[76][77] Soon afterward, AVweb reported that Continental had begun the process of certifying several of its engines to use the new fuel.[78]

From 2009 through 2011, 100SF was approved as a test fuel by ASTM International, allowing the company to pursue certification testing.[79] ,[80] satisfactorily tested by the FAA,[81] tested by Purdue University,[82] and approved under ASTM specification D7719 for high-octane Grade UL102, allowing the company to test more economically in non-experimental aircraft.[83]

In 2012, Swift Fuels LLC was formed to bring in oil and gas industry experience, scale up production and bring the fuel to market. By November 2013, the company had built its pilot plant and received approval to produce fuel in it.[84] Its most recent patent, approved in 2013, describes methods by which the fuel can be produced from fermentable biomass.[85]

The FAA scheduled UL102 for 2 years of phase 2 testing in its PAFI initiative beginning summer 2016.[86]

G100UL

In February 2010, General Aviation Modifications Inc. announced that it was in the process of developing a 100LL replacement to be called G100UL ("unleaded"). This fuel is made by blending existing refinery products and yields detonation margins comparable to 100LL. The new fuel is slightly more dense than 100LL, but has a 3.5% higher thermodynamic output. G100UL is compatible with 100LL and can be mixed with it in aircraft tanks for use. The production economics of this new fuel have not been confirmed but it is anticipated that it will cost at least as much as 100LL.[72][87]

In demonstrations held in July 2010, G100UL performed better than 100LL that just meets the minimum specification and performed as well as average production 100LL.[88]

Shell Unleaded 100-Octane Fuel

In December 2013 Shell Oil announced that they had developed an unleaded 100 octane fuel and will submit it for FAA testing with certification expected within two to three years.[89] The fuel is alkylate-based with an additive package of aromatics. No information has yet been published in its performance, producibility or price. Industry analysts have indicated that it will likely cost as much as or more than existing 100LL.[90]

Environmental regulation

TEL found in leaded avgas and its combustion products are potent neurotoxins that have been shown in scientific research to interfere with brain development in children. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that exposure to even very low levels of lead contamination has been conclusively linked to loss of IQ in children's brain function tests, thus providing a high degree of motivation to eliminate lead and its compounds from the environment.[91] [92]

While lead concentrations in the air have declined, scientific studies have demonstrated that children's neurological development is harmed by much lower levels of lead exposure than previously understood. Low level lead exposure has been clearly linked to loss of IQ in performance testing. Even an average IQ loss of 1–2 points in children has a meaningful impact for the nation as a whole, as it would result in an increase in children classified as mentally challenged, as well as a proportional decrease in the number of children considered "gifted".[92]

On November 16, 2007, the environmental group Friends of the Earth formally petitioned the EPA, asking them to regulate leaded avgas. The EPA responded with a notice of petition for rulemaking.[13]

The notice of petition stated:

Friends of the Earth has filed a petition with EPA, requesting that EPA find pursuant to section 231 of the Clean Air Act that lead emissions from general aviation aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare and that EPA propose emissions standards for lead from general aviation aircraft. Alternatively, Friends of the Earth requests that EPA commence a study and investigation of the health and environmental impacts of lead emissions from general aviation aircraft, if EPA believes that insufficient information exists to make such a finding. The petition submitted by Friends of the Earth explains their view that lead emissions from general aviation aircraft endanger the public health and welfare, creating a duty for the EPA to propose emission standards.[93]

The public comment period on this petition closed on March 17, 2008.[93]

Under a federal court order to set a new standard by October 15, 2008, the EPA cut the acceptable limits for atmospheric lead from the previous standard of 1.5 µg/m3 to 0.15 µg/m3. This was the first change to the standard since 1978 and represents an order of magnitude reduction over previous levels. The new standard requires the 16,000 remaining USA sources of lead, which include lead smelting, airplane fuels, military installations, mining and metal smelting, iron and steel manufacturing, industrial boilers and process heaters, hazardous waste incineration, and production of batteries, to reduce their emissions by October 2011.[91][92][94]

The EPA's own studies have shown that to prevent a measurable decrease in IQ for children deemed most vulnerable, the standard needs to be set much lower, to 0.02 µg/m3. The EPA identified avgas as one of the most "significant sources of lead".

At an EPA public consultation held in June 2008 on the new standards, Andy Cebula, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's executive vice president of government affairs, stated that general aviation plays a valuable role in the USA economy and any changes in lead standards that would change the current composition of avgas would have a "direct impact on the safety of flight and the very future of light aircraft in this country".[95]

In December 2008, AOPA filed formal comments to the new EPA regulations. AOPA has asked the EPA to account for the cost and the safety issues involved with removing lead from avgas. They cited that the aviation sector employs more than 1.3 million people in the US and has an economic direct and indirect effect that "exceeds $150 billion annually". AOPA interprets the new regulations as not affecting general aviation as they are currently written.[96]

Publication in the USA Federal Register of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the USA EPA occurred in April 2010. The EPA indicated: "This action will describe the lead inventory related to use of leaded avgas, air quality and exposure information, additional information the Agency is collecting related to the impact of lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft on air quality and will request comments on this information."[97][98]

Despite assertions in the media that leaded avgas will be eliminated in the US by 2017 at the latest date, the EPA confirmed in July 2010 that there is no phase-out date and that setting one would be an FAA responsibility as the EPA has no authority over avgas. The FAA administrator stated that regulating lead in avgas is an EPA responsibility, resulting in widespread criticism of both organizations for causing confusion and delaying solutions.[99][100][101][102][103]

In April 2011 at Sun 'n Fun, Pete Bunce, head of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and Craig Fuller, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, indicated that they both are confident that leaded avgas will not be eliminated until a suitable replacement is in place. "There is no reason to believe 100 low-lead will become unavailable in the foreseeable future," Fuller stated.[104]

Final results from EPA's lead modeling study at the Santa Monica Airport shows off-airport levels below current 150 ng/m3 and possible future 20 ng/m3 levels.[105] Fifteen of 17 airports monitored during a year-long study in the US by the EPA have lead emissions well below the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead.[106]

Other uses

Avgas is occasionally used in amateur auto racing cars as its octane rating is higher than automotive gasoline thus allowing the engines to run at higher compression ratios.

See also

References

  1. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A). FAA. pp. section 9–7.
  2. MacDonald, Sandy A. F.; Peppler, Isabel L. (2004) [1941]. "Chapter 10. Airmanship". From The Ground Up (Millennium ed.). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Aviation Publishers Co. Limited. pp. 265, 261. ISBN 978-0-9680390-5-2.
  3. Nav Canada: Canada Flight Supplement, page A40. Nav Canada, November 23, 2006
  4. US Energy Information Administration (2017). "Carbon Dioxide Emissions Coefficients". US Energy Information Administration website. Washington, DC. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. US Energy Information Administration (2005). "Appendix F. Fuel and Energy Source Codes and Emission Coefficients" (PDF). Form EIA-1605EZ Short Form for Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (PDF). Washington, DC. p. 22. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  6. "Specified Fuels for Spark Ignited Gasoline Aircraft Engine Models". Textron Lycoming. Lycoming. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  7. "Use of Automotive Gasoline in TCM Aircraft Engines" (PDF). Teledyne Continental Motors. Pacific Continental Motors. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  8. US Energy Information Administration. "U.S. Prime Supplier Sales Volumes of Petroleum Products".
  9. "AVGAS Facts and Future". www.shell.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  10. "Lead in the Hogwash". AV Web. April 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  11. . p. 20. ISBN 0-9690054-2-3. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. "Avgas Grades and Specification". Shell Aviation. July 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  13. Pew, Glenn (November 2007). "Avgas: Group Asks EPA To Get The Lead Out". Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  14. "85 UL aviation gasoline - OBR". Obr.pl. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  15. "ASTM D910". West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  16. "UL 91 aviation gasoline - OBR". Obr.pl. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  17. Rotax (April 2009). "Selection of Suitable Operating Fluids for 912 and 914 (series) Engines - rev 2" (PDF). Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  18. Wheelock, Jim (January 1991). "Teledyne Continental Letter" (PDF). Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  19. Lycoming (April 2012). "Lycoming Service Instruction 1070R" (PDF). Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  20. Miring, Robert (October 2006). "Service Bulletin 129/S/2006" (PDF). Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  21. "Rotax Instruction" (PDF). lightaircraftassociation.co.uk. 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  22. "Lycoming Service Instruction" (PDF). Lycoming.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  23. "EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2010–31 : Unleaded Aviation Gasoline (Avgas) Hjelmco 91/96 UL and Hjelmco 91/98 UL". European Aviation Safety Agency. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  24. "B 91/115 aviation gasoline - OBR". Obr.pl. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  25. "Avgas Specifications". Experimental Aircraft Association. 2009. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  26. "MIL-G-5572 Rev F". United States military. January 24, 1978. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  27. VP Fuels (September 30, 2010). "Airplane Racing Fuels". Archived from the original on January 5, 2016.
  28. Seyferth, Dietmar (2003). "The Rise and Fall of Tetraethyllead". Organometallics. 22 (25): 5154–5178. doi:10.1021/om030621b.
  29. Berry, Mike. "Avgas vs Autogas" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  30. Berry, Mike (n.d.). "Autogas Part 2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  31. "Aviation Fuel - AvGas Information Aviation Gasoline". CSG. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  32. editorial (August 2008). "Avgas Revolution?". Aeromarkt (235). Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  33. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (August 9, 2006). "Regulatory Brief: AVGAS (100LL) ALTERNATIVES". Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  34. Taylor Graham (August 28, 2008). "Swift developing synthetic fuel to replace 100LL". Airport Business News. Airport Business. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  35. AOPA ePublishing staff (March 19, 2006). "AOPA working on future avgas". AOPA online. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  36. AvWeb Staff (February 2008). "Teledyne Continental Plans Certified Diesel Within Two Years". Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  37. Bertorelli, Paul (February 2008). "Make Room in the Aerodiesel Market, Thielert — TCM Tells Aviation Consumer About Some Big Engine Plans". Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  38. Paul, Bertorelli (May 2010). "Continental Unveils a Diesel Project". Archived from the original on May 15, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  39. Paul, Bertorelli (May 12, 2010). "TCM Buys a Diesel: Does This Make Sense?". Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  40. Niles, Russ (November 2008). "Aviation Off D.C. Radar". Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  41. Bertorelli, Paul (May 20, 2012). "FAA Fuel Committee: 11-Year Timeline for Avgas Replacement". AVweb. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  42. Wood, Janice (September 29, 2013). "The future of fuel". General Aviation News.
  43. Dave Hirschman (September 2014). "FAA to Evaluate nine unleaded fuels". AOPA Pilot: 28.
  44. "Piper Flies on Auto Gas". General Aviation News: 5. July 19, 2013.
  45. Bertorelli, Paul (March 2009). "Continental: Maybe 94 Unleaded Fuel Will Fly". Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
  46. Bertorelli, Paul (May 2010). "Can 94UL Replace 100LL? TCM Thinks So". Archived from the original on May 15, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  47. Bertorelli, Paul (June 11, 2010). "Lycoming: 94UL Would Be A Huge Mistake". Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  48. Pew, Glenn (June 2010). "Groups Act On Potential Leaded-Fuel Rulemaking". Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  49. Niles, Russ (June 2010). "Big-Engine Type Groups Unite On Fuel Issue". Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  50. Lee, B. (2010). "100 Octane Unleaded Aviation Fuel - Demand No Less!". Archived from the original on August 30, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  51. "ASTM D7547 - 15e1 Standard Specification for Hydrocarbon Unleaded Aviation Gasoline". www.astm.org. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  52. Dave Hirschman (September 13, 2016). "Swift Fuels 94UL Put to the Test". AOPA News. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  53. "Unleaded UL94 Avgas". Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  54. Laboda, Amy (April 6, 2016). "Swift Fuels Introduces Unleaded 94UL Avgas Nationwide". AINOnline. Aviation International News. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  55. "UL94 Supplemental Type Certificate". swiftfuels.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  56. "FAA STC SA01757WI". rgl.faa.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  57. "FAA SAIB HQ-16-05" (PDF). rgl.faa.gov. November 10, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  58. "FAA SAIB HQ-16-05R1" (PDF). August 30, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  59. "Service Instruction No. 1070 V". lycoming.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  60. Jennifer Archibald (June 21, 2006). "Petroleum Free: New agriculture-based fuel revealed at Delphi Airport". Carroll County Comet. Flora, Indiana, USA. Archived from the original on August 10, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  61. The patent lists Mary-Louise Rusek and Jon Ziulkowski as inventors.US application 2008168706, RUSEK, Mary-Louise, R & ZIULKOWSKI, Jonathon, D., "Renewable Engine Fuel", published July 17, 2008, assigned to SWIFT ENTERPRISES, LTD. WO application 2008013922A1, RUSEK, Mary-Louise, R & ZIULKOWSKI, Jonathon, D., "Renewable Engine Fuel", published 2008-01-31, assigned to SWIFT ENTPR LTD [US]
  62. Lowe, Debbie (November 7, 2007). "Permit required for tree activity in Delphi". Carroll County Comet. Flora, Indiana, USA. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  63. Eric Weddle (June 13, 2008). "Delphi could be showcase for renewable aviation fuel". Journal&Courrier. Federated Publisher Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  64. Sargent, Sara (August 26, 2008). "Swift Enterprises hopes to take off with renewable aviation gas". Medill Reports. Chicago: Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  65. "New Aviation Fuel Developed in Indiana". Inside Indiana Business. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2008.
  66. Lowe, Debbie (July 30, 2008). "Demonstration fuel facility project accelerated". Carroll County Comet. Flora, Indiana, USA. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  67. Lowe, Debbie (July 9, 2008). "Annual EDC request approved by Delphi". Carroll County Comet. Flora, Indiana, USA. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  68. Robert X Cringely (June 6, 2008). "It's the Platform, Stupid". PBS.
  69. Dave Hirschman (September 3, 2009). "Grass for gas - Flying a real, renewable fuel". AOPA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013.
  70. Bertorelli, Paul (March 2009). "FAA Evaluates 100LL Alternative". Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  71. Bertorelli, Paul (March 2009). "Swift Fuel: Is It for Real?". Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  72. Bertorelli, Paul (February 2010). "Exclusive Video: AVweb's G100UL Flight Test". Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  73. Bertorelli, Paul (May 2010). "Oil Slicks and Avgas". Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  74. The American Bonanza Society (June 2010). "ABS Developing Fuels Strategy". Archived from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  75. Bertorelli, Paul (July 2010). "Swift Fuel: A Tilt Toward Natural Gas". Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  76. Bertorelli, Paul (March 4, 2009). "FAA Evaluates 100LL Alternative". AvWeb. 7 (9).
  77. David Atwood (January 2009). "DOT/FAA/AR-08/53 Full-Scale Engine Detonation and Power Performance Evaluation of Swift Enterprises 702 Fuel" (PDF). FAA Office of Aviation Research and Development.
  78. Russ Niles (April 23, 2009). "Continental-powered Bonanza on Swift Fuel". AVweb. reporting on Press Release "Continental Motors Completes First Flight on Unleaded AvGas" (PDF) (Press release). Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc. March 31, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2009. With the first flights complete, TCM will begin the certification process of several engine models to meet the needs for existing and future aircraft
  79. Grady, Mary (December 2009). "Efforts Move Forward To Produce Alternative Aviation Fuels". Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  80. Purdue Research Park (December 2009). "Indiana Airline Fuel Developer Moves Ahead With Testing". Archived from the original on January 18, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  81. Niles, Russ (August 2010). "Swift Fuel engine test results generally positive". Avweb. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  82. Grady, Mary (October 2010). "Swift Fuel Expands Testing". Avweb. Aviation Publishing Group. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  83. "SwiftFuel meets new ASTM standard". General Aviation News. May 25, 2011.
  84. Jim Moore (November 11, 2013). "Swift Fuels gains ASTM approval". Aircraft Owners and pilots Association.
  85. US patent 8556999, RUSEK JOHN J; RUSEK MARY-LOUISE R & ZIULKOWSKI JONATHON D et al., "Renewable Engine Fuel and method of producing Same", published July 17, 2008, assigned to Swift Enterprises LTD
  86. Lynch, Kerry (March 30, 2016). "FAA Moves To Next Phase of Unleaded Avgas Testing". AINOnline. Aviation International News. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  87. Bertorelli, Paul (February 2010). "AVweb Flies New G100UL Fuel". Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  88. Bertorelli, Paul (July 2010). "Pelton, Fuller Take A Look At GAMI's G100UL". Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  89. Bertorelli, Paul (December 3, 2013). "Shell Announces Unleaded 100-Octane Fuel". Avweb. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  90. Bertorelli, Paul (December 11, 2013). "Shell's New Avgas: Inside Comments". Avweb. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  91. Pew, Glenn (October 2008). "EPA Sets New Standard For Lead In Air". Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  92. Balbus, John (October 2008). "New EPA lead standard significantly improved to protect kids' health" (PDF). MarketWatch.com. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  93. Environmental Protection Agency (November 2007). "Federal Register: November 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 221)". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  94. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (October 2008). "U.S. tightens health standard for airborne lead". CBC News. Retrieved October 17, 2008.
  95. Hirschman, Dave (October 2008). "EPA sets new air quality standard". Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  96. Pew, Glenn (December 5, 2008). "Leaded Fuel, Emissions, The EPA And AOPA". Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  97. Grady, Mary (April 10, 2007). "Leaded Avgas Issue Moving To Front Burner". Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  98. Grady, Mary (April 10, 2010). "EPA Advances 100LL Rulemaking Process". Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  99. Bertorelli, Paul (July 4, 2010). "Fuel Fight: It's About Time". Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  100. Bertorelli, Paul (July 28, 2010). "EPA On Lead In Fuel: No Immediate Deadline". Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  101. Bertorelli, Paul (July 28, 2010). "Industry Leaders: Don't Panic On Avgas". Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  102. Bertorelli, Paul (July 28, 2010). "AirVenture 2010: Avgas — Top 'er off with 100 gallons of muddled message". Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  103. Pew, Glenn (July 28, 2010). "100LL: FAA's Babbitt contradicts EPA statement". Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  104. Grady, Mary (April 2011). ""Town Meeting" Issues: Avgas, Pilot Decline". AvWeb. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  105. "Final Results from EPA's Lead Modeling Study at the Santa Monica Airport, by Arnold Den, Senior Science Advisor, February 22, 2010" (PDF). smgov.net. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  106. "GA community works to replace 100LL". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013. 15 of the [17] airports monitored during a year-long study have lead emissions well below the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.