TagAvGas(11)

ACRP Research Focus primer developed under ACRP Project 03-73, published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine via the Transportation Research Board and Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Covers the transition from 100LL avgas (aviation gasoline containing tetraethyllead) to unleaded aviation gasoline for general aviation piston

Researchers from the University of Washington presented findings to King County's Airport Round Table Advisory Committee showing that aviation emissions pose significant public health risks to nearby communities. Airports account for 70% of airborne lead emissions in King County, primarily from piston-engine aircraft burning leaded aviation gasoline, and multiple studies link living close to such airports with elevated blood lead levels in children. The presentation also highlighted broader health harms from aviation pollutants—including ultrafine particles and nitrogen oxides—affecting neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory health.

Swift Fuels, a West Lafayette, Indiana-based company, presented on unleaded aviation gasoline at the Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium 2023 at UC Davis. The company markets two premium unleaded avgas products: UL94, sold since 2015 with FAA STC approval and ASTM D7547 certification, and a forthcoming high-octane 100R formula. These fuels are designed as lead-free alternatives to conventional aviation gasoline, with approvals from both engine and airframe original equipment manufacturers.

The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions Initiative (EAGLE) is a coalition of government and industry partners, including the FAA and major aviation associations, working to eliminate lead emissions from aviation gasoline by the end of 2030 without compromising the safety or efficiency of general aviation. The initiative operates through four key pillars: supply chain infrastructure and deployment, research and innovation, unleaded fuel evaluation and authorization, and regulation and policy activities. A presentation on the initiative was delivered at the Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium at U.C. Davis on May 2, 2023.

In a July 2022 congressional hearing, Chairman Ro Khanna highlighted the health dangers of leaded aviation fuel (Avgas) still used in small general aviation aircraft, noting that children near airports in communities of color face blood lead levels exceeding those seen during the Flint water crisis. The statement criticizes the FAA and EPA for failing to act urgently on phasing out leaded fuel, despite the existence of viable unleaded alternatives, and accuses oil companies and aviation industry groups of deliberately delaying the transition. Khanna calls on federal agencies to accelerate approval of lead-free fuel options, involve affected communities in decision-making, and use infrastructure funding to support the switch to unleaded aviation fuel.

This 2021 report by Mountain Data Group, commissioned by Santa Clara County, examines the health risks posed to children living near Reid-Hillview Airport in California due to lead emissions from leaded aviation gasoline. It analyzes statistical associations between children's blood lead levels and factors such as residential distance from the airport, aircraft traffic, and fuel sales. Note that while this report focuses on lead exposure from aviation fuel at a California airport, it does not address noise policy or Sea-Tac Airport operations.