Revolution in fuel technology: advantages and challenges of G100UL
The G100UL fuel was developed to provide a solution to the lead-based fuel problems of aviation. Lead has been used in aviation for decades to prevent combustion knock and stabilise engine performance. However, the health and environmental damage caused by lead-based emissions has caused considerable concern in recent years. With G100UL, GAMI now offers a way to circumvent these problems while maintaining engine performance.
A key element for the use of the G100UL is the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), which was developed by GAMI for a large number of aircraft models. A major advantage of the new fuel is that no technical modifications to the aircraft are necessary for its use. GAMI was able to sell 125 STCs and refuel almost 4,000 litres of G100UL on the first day - a promising start that confirms the high demand for a lead-free alternative.
California as a pioneer: the special case of Reid-Hillview
At the beginning of 2022, Santa Clara County in California banned the sale of leaded avgas for environmental reasons, making the Reid-Hillview site a strategically important testing ground for G100UL. Until now, pilots there only had access to UL94, another unleaded fuel that is not suitable for all aircraft types. With the introduction of G100UL, a solution is now available for almost all piston engines.
In terms of cost, G100UL is slightly more expensive: the price is currently around USD 6.99 per gallon, which is around 25 to 30 cents higher than the price of leaded fuel at nearby airports. Nevertheless, the willingness of pilots to pay for environmentally friendly fuel is a positive sign that general aviation is making a shift towards more environmentally friendly solutions.
Competition in the unleaded avgas market: Swift, LyondellBasell and VP Racing Fuels
In addition to GAMI, other companies are working on the development and approval of unleaded avgas alternatives. Swift Fuels, another innovative company in the aviation fuel sector, recently received an initial STC for a new unleaded fuel. LyondellBasell and VP Racing Fuels are also working on their own solutions that could soon offer the market additional alternatives.
The growing competition shows that the industry is in a state of flux. New products such as G100UL and the innovations from Swift and other companies are designed not only to eliminate lead content, but also to maintain and in many cases even improve the efficiency of aircraft engines.
Outlook: A sustainable change in general aviation
The successful sales launch of G100UL could accelerate the introduction of unleaded aviation fuels worldwide and lead general aviation into a greener future. The high demand and interest from pilots is a clear signal that the industry is ready to move away from leaded fuels.
The next steps will be to make the fuel available at more airports and promote its use internationally. Further technological improvements and the certification of additional aircraft models for operation with G100UL could pave the way for lead-free fuels to soon become the standard in aviation.
Source references:
Aviation magazine