For almost 20 years, AOPA and other general aviation associations have actively been involved in the issue of un-leading avgas. But this year, the issue took on a new urgency, and a SWAT team of AOPA communications and government relations professionals has focused intently on federal developments that will now likely lead to unleaded avgas in our future.
AOPA's focus has been on representing the interests of all its members in regulatory proceedings and keeping them informed. Most of AOPA's work has been behind the scenes, but increasingly, as developments warranted, the association has stepped up its communications, education, and advocacy on the leaded avgas issue. And with the new ePilot Special Report series, AOPA is taking another step toward keepingmembers informed and involved in a process that will surely impact all of our flying for years to come.
This transition process is complicated—and confusing. Many agencies, including the EPA and the FAA are involved as well as the possibility of Congress and many other associations and companies.
There are many aspects to this process that will be unclear for some time to come. But some are clear now:
- 100LL will remain readily available, but there is currently no clear “drop-in” replacement for 100LL;
- An industry avgas coalition has organized around a Future Avgas Strategy and Transition Plan—that is committed to a process and path that will address the needs of the entire GA fleet;
- This process toward a single-fuel solution that assures safe operations, meets infrastructure concerns, and affordable economics will take many years.
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