EPA targets lead in avgas

[Pilawt]

Another shoe drops. It looks more like a jackboot about to stomp on us.

"EPA Proposes to Declare Aviation Lead Emissions Public Health Danger"

While levels of airborne lead in the United States have declined 99% since 1980, piston-engine aircraft are the largest remaining source of lead emissions into the air.

Children's exposure to lead can cause irreversible and lifelong health effects, the EPA said.

"When it comes to our children, the science is clear, exposure to lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement on Friday. "Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions in the country."​

https://www.newsmax.com/health/heal...protection-agency-lead/2022/10/07/id/1090898/

 

[RyanB]

I figured this might happen with the UL approval. They’ve got the grounds to make the push now…

Get ready for a ban and costs to go up!

 

[Joe_B1]

If it was common, I would burn it in my plane. Let's get the show on the road already!

 

[Baked Potato]

A light sport that can burn auto gas is looking pretty attractive to me right now...

 

[guest user]

Any chance we could push back with something along the lines of "This ruling would disproportionally affect the poorest and most flight time vulnerable of pilots."

 

[aterry1067]

A light sport that can burn auto gas is looking pretty attractive to me right now...

Agreed. The majority of GA airplanes sitting on ramps right now are approved for STCs that can burn unleaded car gas…as long as it doesn’t have ethanol in it.

 

[G-Man]

It's ridiculous leaded av gas wasn't replaced by 1985. Where has the FAA been for the last 42 years?

 

[schmookeeg]

I wonder who's pulling this lever? I can't figure out the Cui Bono on this one. I don't think Braly & Co are that well connected. Does one of the oil companies have a viable 100UL forthcoming, and they're paving the way with regulation?

Maybe they're doing it because it's the right thing to do, and would be good governance. [Cue excessive laugh track]

 

[francisco collazos]

Any chance we could push back with something along the lines of "This ruling would disproportionally affect the poorest and most flight time vulnerable of pilots."

Maybe they can cancel 20k off a plane loan.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Yea. Lead is SOOOOO good for our engines. And it tastes SOOOOOO good. How dare they take it away.


Geoff "Schleps auto fuel in 5 gallon cans to avoid lead in the gearbox" Thorpe

 

[mandm]

Good night EPA….

People already live to 80s, how much longer do we need to live?

 

[Half Fast]

Look for a move toward federal subsidies to get G100UL to market quickly.

 

[Racerx]

Good night EPA….

People already live to 80s, how much longer do we need to live?

"You can live on kale and smoothies and live to 90 or 100...you're only getting the back half...I want to drink milkshakes and eat steak and get eff off this planet"
-Dan Cummins

 

[Pinecone]

My Dad always said that his plan was to live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse.

He failed at that goal. He will be 96 in February.

And yes, carrier pilots have strange senses of humor. As to fighter and attack pilots.

 

[robin ardoin]

@Racerx @Pinecone I’m sure ya’ll have heard this one:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson

 

[Doc Holliday]

Elections have consequences.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

There’s way more stupid out there than aviation lead can account for.
They’re blaming the wrong thing.

 

[pburger]

...The majority of GA airplanes sitting on ramps right now are approved for STCs that can burn unleaded car gas…as long as it doesn’t have ethanol in it.

I doubt this statement. Mine sure isn't. But even if the majority are approved, they all aren't.

 

[frfly172]

It would be nice if they let 100 ul get established before going after aviation. I already burn ul94 but it’s not easy to find it.

 

[red4golf]

@Racerx @Pinecone I’m sure ya’ll have heard this one:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson

Debbie Harry from Blondie nailed it... Live fast, die young, and stay pretty. Live fast, cause it won't last!

 

[Half Fast]

I doubt this statement. Mine sure isn't. But even if the majority are approved, they all aren't.

Nor is mine.

I could get the STC for 94UL, but it's not available anywhere nearby.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I doubt this statement. Mine sure isn't. But even if the majority are approved, they all aren't.

But is is on the Approved Model List of aircraft that can get the GAMI G100UL STC.

 

[Half Fast]

But is is on the Approved Model List of aircraft that can get the GAMI G100UL STC.

I believe every certificated gas piston engine airplane in the fleet is on the G100UL AML. That was the whole point of this latest GAMI effort.

 

[Racerx]

Look for a move toward federal subsidies to get G100UL to market quickly.

Think of all the money they flushed on pafi and now eagle, not to mention all of the largely useless environment impact studies. One helluva subsidy.

 

[Half Fast]

Think of all the money they flushed on pafi and now eagle, not to mention all of the largely useless environment impact studies. One helluva subsidy.

I suspect there will be some sort of subsidy to fuel producers to encourage and help them get UL into production, much the same way the feds subsidize electric cars and solar panels. Probably not until next year.

But I won’t be surprised if the EPA starts making lots of noise and threats, followed by GAMI and the FAA saying there’s a solution but it will take many years to get it into production and reach an acceptable price, whereupon the fuel companies will begin asking for assistance, reminding everyone that “it’s for the children.”

 

[Jim K]

Is this news though? I thought the epa announced several months ago they were going to sell an endangerment finding.

Agreed. The majority of GA airplanes sitting on ramps right now are approved for STCs that can burn unleaded car gas…as long as it doesn’t have ethanol in it.

A majority of planes, sure, but the ones that aren't burn the vast majority of avgas.

 

[Steamflyer]

Something like 70% of the avgas is burned by aircraft that must have 100LL, but they only comprise 20% of the numerical fleet.

 

[Todd82]

Something like 70% of the avgas is burned by aircraft that must have 100LL, but they only comprise 20% of the numerical fleet.

But even all of those are covered by the new GAMI fuel, right?

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

But even all of those are covered by the new GAMI fuel, right?

Yup.

 

[Racerx]

Debbie Harry from Blondie

Yeah....I don't know who that is.

 

[red4golf]

Yeah....I don't know who that is.

You would need to remember some of the 70s and most of the 80s...... She was even on the Muppet Show and Creep Show. Too young for those?

 

[3393RP]

I'm usually not good at predicting the future, but this one was easy.

Posted August 14th:

Everyone is discussing the wrong three letter acronym. The FAA isn't the problem, it's the EPA. With the current political climate (irony intended), there are dangerous ideas floating around that could foment a crisis any day.

 

[Joe_B1]

There’s way more stupid out there than aviation lead can account for.
They’re blaming the wrong thing.

As usual!

 

[Clip4]

A light sport that can burn auto gas is looking pretty attractive to me right now...

If my choice was an LSA I’d quit flying and not look back.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

It's ridiculous leaded av gas wasn't replaced by 1985. Where has the FAA been for the last 42 years?

The FAA doesn't make gasoline. Any manufacturer could have come up with something, and owned the market, as the EPA would have jumped on a lead ban.
BTW, some motor racing fuels do still have lead, but a lot of tuners are going toward E-85.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

The FAA doesn't make gasoline. Any manufacturer could have come up with something, and owned the market

Except that it's apparently really hard to make 100 octane unleaded fuel that meets the FAA's 1930's specs.

The reason that GAMI succeeded was they decided to make a fuel that works - not one that meets the spec.

 

[Domenick]

"You can live on kale and smoothies and live to 90 or 100...you're only getting the back half...I want to drink milkshakes and eat steak and get eff off this planet"

Yes, on kale and smoothies, but you'll be depressed.
https://www.sciencealert.com/vegeta...be-depressed-but-not-for-the-reason-you-think

 

[Dana]

If my choice was an LSA I’d quit flying and not look back.

Your loss.

 

[PPC1052]

Yeah....I don't know who that is.

 

[Shepherd]

Mogas!