Understanding the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Primer (2026)
Chapter: What Are Other Organizations Doing to Support the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
It should be stressed that these are not the first government agency actions focused on eliminating lead from aviation gasoline, as the FAA created the ongoing Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) in 2014 with the goal of testing and evaluating candidate unleaded aviation gasolines in order to identify at least one such fuel suitable for widespread use.
Further, Congress enacted the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 3935), which requires airports that offered leaded aviation gasoline in 2022 or earlier to continue offering that fuel until December 31, 2030, or:
“…the date on which the airport or any retail fuel seller at such airport makes available an unleaded aviation gasoline that has been authorized for use by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration as a replacement for 100 octane low lead aviation gasoline for use in nearly all piston-engine aircraft and engine models; and meets either an industry consensus standard or other standard that facilitates the safe use, production, and distribution of such unleaded aviation gasoline, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.”
In addition to these federal actions, the states of Colorado and California have been developing legislation related to the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline. In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 24-1235 on May 17, 2024 (CO HB1235 2024). This bill provides tax credits to aircraft owners to offset the expenses of obtaining certification to use unleaded aviation gasoline and offers financial grants to airports to assist with the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1193 (CA SB1193 2023-2024) on September 22, 2024, which bans the sale of leaded aviation gasoline in California as of January 1, 2031. It should also be noted that legislation proposed in 2023, which would have banned the sale of leaded avgas well before the end of 2030, was not approved in the states of New Mexico and Washington. Given the public health and environmental concerns related to aircraft lead emissions, other state, local, and tribal governments may consider actions focused on the elimination of unleaded aviation gasoline.
What Are Other Organizations Doing to Support the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline?
The primary initiative focused on the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline is EAGLE, created by the FAA in conjunction with many public and private stakeholders (FAA 2024a). More specifically, EAGLE
“…is a comprehensive government-industry initiative consisting of the aviation and petroleum industries and U.S. government stakeholders, and a wide range of other constituents and interested parties, all working toward the transition to lead-free aviation fuels for piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030 without compromising the safety or economic health of the general aviation industry” (EAGLE 2024a).
In addition to the FAA, the members of EAGLE include:
- National Air Transportation Association (NATA),
- Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA),
- American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE),
- American Petroleum Institute (API),
- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA),
- General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA),
- International Council of Airshows (ICAS),
- National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO),
- National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and
- Vertical Aviation International (VAI).
To achieve the goal of a complete phaseout of leaded aviation gasoline by the end of 2030, EAGLE seeks to accomplish the following steps:
- Identify at least one unleaded fuel acceptable for safe use by the general aviation fleet.
- Minimize the safety and technical impacts associated with high-performance engines using unleaded fuels.
- Facilitate the increased production, distribution, and greater use of unleaded replacement fuels.
- Ensure that 100LL aviation gasoline is available during the transition to unleaded aviation fuel.
- Establish policies that support airport infrastructure funding for unleaded aviation fuel.
- Endorse plans that reduce or eliminate reliance upon leaded aviation fuels.
The activities and efforts necessary to accomplish these steps are organized into four pillars:
- Supply chain infrastructure and deployment. This pillar focuses on ensuring the continued availability of leaded aviation gasoline during the interim transition and
