Transitioning to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Guide and Tools (2026)
Chapter: 3 Tools to Assist with Transition Activities
CHAPTER 3
Tools to Assist with Transition Activities
As noted previously, five tools have been prepared to assist airports with transition-related activities. These tools are available with the guide and can be found by searching the National Academies Press website (nationalacademies.org/publications) for ACRP Research Report 284: Transitioning to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Guide and Tools.
The first tool is the Transition Process Checklist Tool, an Excel spreadsheet that identifies the general actions suggested for nine of the 10 steps outlined in the guide (omitting the decision to transition, which is Step 6). It allows users to track whether the performance of each action is applicable to their airport, record the date of completion for applicable actions, and insert notes regarding each action. It is intended to assist airport staff in managing the details of the transition.
The second tool is the Individual Aircraft Unleaded Fuel Survey Tool, a fillable PDF form. This form is used to collect data from owners and operators of individual aircraft. This information supports the unleaded fuel compatibility survey required to characterize the airport fleet, as described in Step 2 of the guide. It is designed to allow survey information to be collected for up to four different types of unleaded avgas. This form can be provided electronically or printed and distributed in hard copy. It also includes links to FAA registration data and unleaded fuel STC sites. This data is intended to be entered into the third tool described as follows.
The third tool is the Multiple Aircraft Unleaded Fuel Survey Tool, an Excel spreadsheet. This file is used to collect data for the unleaded fuel compatibility survey from owners and operators of multiple aircraft, such as flight schools. This information is used to characterize the airport fleet as described in Step 2 of the guide. Similar to the Individual Aircraft Unleaded Fuel Survey Tool, it allows users to collect information for up to four different types of unleaded avgas in case more than one type of fuel is under consideration by the airport. It also includes links to FAA registration data and unleaded fuel STC sites.
The fourth tool is the Airport Unleaded Fuel Aircraft Inventory Tool, an Excel spreadsheet used to develop a complete characterization of the airport aircraft fleet. Data for each unleaded fuel under consideration, again, up to four fuels, should be entered into this tool, using information collected from either the Individual Aircraft Unleaded Fuel Survey Tool or the Multiple Aircraft Unleaded Fuel Survey Tool. Once the data is entered, the tool generates a complete database along with summary statistics and estimated volume demand for each potential unleaded fuel. It also includes links to FAA registration data and unleaded fuel STC sites.
The fifth and final tool is the Unleaded Fuel Cost Evaluation Tool, an Excel spreadsheet intended for use in performing the financial analysis of unleaded aviation gasoline alternatives, as discussed in Step 5 of the guide. This tool allows for the quantification of fixed costs associated with adding an unleaded fuel, as well as the evaluation of differences in variable costs between each potential unleaded fuel. It enables the evaluation of up to four different potential unleaded fuels.
