The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a draft Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline for public comment, outlining the technical, regulatory, and logistical considerations involved in moving away from 100LL. Pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation stakeholders are encouraged to review the draft and submit feedback to help shape the transition. The plan establishes national targets of 2030 for the contiguous United States and 2032 for Alaska and describes transition phases, anticipated timelines, fuel authorization pathways, and considerations for airports and operators as unleaded fuels enter the market. The FAA emphasizes that stakeholder input will further inform the plan and help keep safety at the forefront.
NATA welcomes the release of the draft framework and is actively reviewing the plan alongside industry partners. NATA notes that many of the considerations reflected in the draft build on years of collaborative work across the industry, including through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, which has focused on advancing a safe and practical transition to unleaded fuel. “The transition to unleaded avgas will have lasting operational and economic implications,” said Curt Castagna, NATA President and CEO and Industry Chair of EAGLE. “Meaningful industry input is essential to ensure this effort remains, above all, safe, while also practical and aligned with real-world operations.”
NATA will continue to strongly support our members in this effort and encourages GA airports and aviation businesses, including fuel producers, distributors, FBOs, and charter operators, to participate in the public comment process by sharing insights informed by operational experience and on-the-ground realities.