Fuel News

After an extensive trial, the University of North Dakota’s flight school has dropped Swift UL94 fuel and resumed use of 100LL. The school said ongoing maintenance monitoring of aircraft using UL94—almost exclusively Lycoming-powered Piper Archers and Seminoles—resulted in measurable exhaust valve recession. The school made the switch back to 100LL on Oct. 27. Partly because […]

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) posted in its Oct. 31 newsletter that President and CEO Curt Castagna, who is also president and CEO of Aeroplex Group Partners, has taken over co-chair duties at the industry-government Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative. He replaces Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. […]

The EPA is expected to formally issue an endangerment finding on leaded aviation fuel as early as Wednesday. In response, the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative will be briefing the aviation media Wednesday on what life might be like in the wake of the finding. An endangerment finding gets the ball rolling on […]

Rolls-Royce says it has run a modified version of a standard jet engine at takeoff power using hydrogen for fuel. The company said it’s a key accomplishment in developing future carbon-free designs that can power future aircraft. “This involved overcoming significant engineering challenges as hydrogen burns far hotter and more rapidly than kerosene,” Rolls-Royce said. […]

Diamond Aircraft said one of its DA42-VI light twins recently flew for the first time using sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, at the Bremen Airport (EDDW) in Germany. The company reports that the airplane, which is part of the training fleet of the European Flight Academy—an operation under Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT)—flew circuits around the […]

The FAA will issue a fleet authorization this year that will allow more than two-thirds of the gasoline piston fleet to operate on 91UL avgas. In a news conference held to update progress on the development of an unleaded high-octane replacement for 100UL, Lirio Liu, the head of certification for the FAA, said the agency […]

Engine and airframe manufacturers are calling for greater transparency in the process toward eliminating lead from aviation gasoline so they can ensure the safety and reliability of the fuels for their products and customers. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association held a video news conference on Monday to give an update on the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline […]

Piper Aircraft announced today at AERO 2023 that all of its PA-46-based, single-engine turbine-powered aircraft are now able to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Use of the fuel was approved by the FAA under Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) NE-11-56R4, which states that all jet fuel that meets the requirements of ASTM International Standard D7566 […]

The FAA has at least temporarily stopped its investigation into whether Santa Clara County in California is violating its grants agreement by refusing to sell leaded gasoline at county-owned Reid Hillview and San Martin Airport. In exchange, the county has agreed to consider taking part in a study into the transition process from leaded to […]

Pratt & Whitney Canada and regional aircraft manufacturer ATR have announced an agreement to collaborate on getting PW127-series engines ready to use 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The partnership is expected to include compatibility studies, engineering analyses and aircraft ground and flight tests. Along with Braathens Regional Airlines, Pratt & Whitney and ATR conducted […]