On: Leaded fuel reduced IQ of children born before 199...

[__turbobrew__]

The first unleaded avgas was approved by the FAA this year: https://gami.com/g100ul/G100UL_Oshkosh_Press_Release.pdf

[outworlder → __turbobrew__]

YAY. Missed that!

Drop in replacement, no engine changes, no performance changes, no compatibility issues with storage tanks, pipelines, anything.

They are claiming it will even increase time between overhauls, prolong spark plug life, maybe even increase engine life and require less oil changes.

Seems more costly though. But if the above materializes it might offset the costs too.

That sounds like the holy grail - if more airframes are issued STCs

[lutorm → __turbobrew__]

This is awesome. However, since it appears every certified airplane needs an STC to be able to use it, it doesn't seem likely that I'll be able to use it in our experimental aircraft any time soon. I can't imagine that our small FBO will switch from 100LL to G100UL as long as there are any airplanes around that can't use it.

[jeffbee → __turbobrew__]

No. Unleaded aviation fuels have been available forever. That certification helps people convert obsolete aircraft to unleaded at lower cost, a thing which should be a non-goal of national policy. The federal government should outlaw leaded aviation fuels immediately and let the hobby aviation community figure out how to proceed from there.

[outworlder → jeffbee]

> Unleaded aviation fuels have been available forever

True. But irrelevant if most aircraft cannot use it.

> That certification helps people convert obsolete aircraft

Obsolete? Is a Cirrus SR-22 obsolete?

> The federal government should outlaw leaded aviation fuels immediately and let the hobby aviation community figure out how to proceed from there.

The government also uses planes. Whole industries use piston planes. And helicopters. Why are you singling out 'hobby' aircraft?

Mind you, experimental aircraft have been able to use unleaded fuels (including automotive gasoline) for a while now. The reason most can't is that there were no fuels certified for use in their aircraft. Certification requirements come from the government, so the government has to fix it.

[jeffbee → outworlder]

> Is a Cirrus SR-22 obsolete?

Yes, the naturally-aspirated SR22 that requires 100LL is obsolete. The turbocharged SR22T that can use unleaded is not.

One of the nice things about having principled beliefs is the ability to unambiguously answer simple questions.

[__turbobrew__ → jeffbee]

Small planes are used for much more than hobbyist uses. Prior to G100UL there were no drop in replacements which made adoption of unleaded avgas fuels impractical. G100UL can be manufactured at the existing avgas plants, stored and transported in the existing avgas infrastructure, and even mixed with leaded avgas.

Banning unleaded fuel without a replacement would have been heavy handed and short sighted. The government should be working with industry partners to develop a suitable replacement -- as G100UL was -- and subsidize the fuel costs to make the more expensive replacement the same cost as leaded fuel.