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FAA Wants All Aircraft Flying On Unleaded Fuel By 2018

Posted by Soulskill on from the even-death-drones dept.

coondoggie writes "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week put out a call to fuel producers to offer options that would safely let general aviation aircraft stop using leaded fuel by 2018. The FAA says there are approximately 167,000 aircraft in the United States and a total of 230,000 worldwide that rely on the current 100 octane, low lead fuel for safe operation. It is the only remaining transportation fuel in the United States that contains the addition of tetraethyl lead, a toxic substance, to create the very high octane levels needed for high-performance aircraft engines. Operations with inadequate octane can result in engine failures, the FAA noted."

6 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. Who's going to pay for it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So in 6 years, the FAA expects 167,000 aircraft owners to swap the engines in their aircraft for an unleaded engine? In 6 years companies are supposed to develop an unleaded engine that will fit in every type of small prop aircraft currently flying? Yeah, not happening.

    And as a small single engine plane owner myself, I'll be damned if the government forces me to spend 30K on swapping out a new engine, then more on inspections and re-certification of the aircraft.

    1. Re:Who's going to pay for it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
      So, you expect everybody else to breathe in your brain damaging exhaust to save you some bucks.

      Tell you what, why don't you route your exhaust through the plane cabin and filter it with your lungs first.

    2. Re:Who's going to pay for it? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As the owner/operator of a complex network of around 100 billion neurons, along with support infrastructure, I'm not entirely sympathetic to your desire to continue emitting lead. Nothing personal.

    3. Re:Who's going to pay for it? by Kaenneth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'll be damned if the government forces me to spend 30K on swapping out a new engine, then more on inspections and re-certification of the aircraft.

      I'm not questioning that figure (because I know it's true) but why do airplane engines cost so friggin much?

      Compare to the price of mid-air failure.

  2. Re: mostly some small private planes left by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And with about 30 years, you might get the FAA to approve the engine to put into that airplane. We are not talking about your old junk car sitting in the back yard here, you don't get to just put whatever you want into it. Certified aircraft require FAA certified parts, which includes the engine. This has nothing to do with being authentic, it has to do with government regulations and laws.

  3. Re:Bad Bad Bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yet another uninformed individual who has obviously never hung out with pilots. The 1% guys are usually the ones that are using Jet Fuel and therefore not affected by this.