Understanding the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Primer (2026)
Chapter: Front Matter
Understanding the
Transition to Unleaded
Aviation Gasoline
A Primer
This primer and an associated publication, ACRP Research Report 284: Transitioning to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Guide and Tools, were developed under ACRP Project 03-73. ACRP Research Report 284 is available at https://nationalacademies.org/publications/29409.
The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration. ACRP is administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed or implied in resulting research products are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of TRB; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or ACRP sponsors.
Jim Lyons
TRINITY CONSULTANTS
Phoenix, AZ
Shaun Germolus
AIRPORTADMIN, LLC
Kissimmee, FL
Bernard Robertson
BIR1
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Jay Turner
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
Saint Louis, MO
Jeremy Heiken
OAK LEAF ENVIRONMENTAL
Dexter, MI
Cover photo: Courtesy of iStock user SkyF. The cover photo shows 100LL avgas being pumped into a small airplane.
© 2026 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Contents
Why Are Airports Transitioning to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Are Governments and Agencies Doing to Support the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Are Other Organizations Doing to Support the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Is the Status of Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Steps Do Airports Generally Have to Take to Provide Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Are the Opportunities and Challenges for Airports in Providing Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
What Other Actions Can Airports Take to Reduce Lead-Related Impacts?
What Resources Are Available to Help Airports Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
