SAIB HQ-16-05, grade UL94 fuel

[Kiddo's Driver]

SAIB HQ-16-05, grade UL94 fuel, issued today (Nov 10th, 2015)

What does this mean???

This was just issued today. Does it mean that they finally approved a 100LL substitute?

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSAIB.nsf/(LookupSAIBs)/HQ-16-05?OpenDocument

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB ) advises aircraft operators, fixed base
operators, FAA repair stations, Flight Standards District Offices, and Foreign Civil Aviation
Authorities, that grade UL94 aviation gasoline (avgas), that meets the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) International fuel specification D7547, is acceptable for use on aircraft and
engines certificated for operation with grade UL94 avgas that meets ASTM International fuel
specification D7592.
This SAIB also advises that specification D7547 grade UL94 avgas meets or exceeds all of the
performance requirements of grade UL91 avgas, which is also specified in D7547. As a result,
specification D7547 grade UL94 avgas meets the approved operating limitations for aircraft and
engines certificated to operate with D7547 grade UL91 avgas.

 

[rbridges]

I'm not sure. I read it earlier, but I don't think it substitutes for 100LL. It only mentions UL91 whatever that is.

 

[petrolero]

No it doesn't say that it's a sub for 100LL.

 

[Kiddo's Driver]

NOPE: "It looks like it is saying that anything certified to run on 91/96 aviation fuel is allowed to use UL94 aviation fuel. Who sells 91/96? When did they last quit making it?"

I was wrong. It looks like they are saying UL94 is an acceptable replacement for UL91. UL91 appears to be a European fuel (CAA approved). They are just saying that if it is UL91 approved, you can run UL94.

Does any of this help anyone in the US? Is this stuff available at the pumps anywhere?

More research to do...

 

[Neal Howard]

UL94 is basically 100LL base formula with zero lead in it. The lead is worth 6 octane points.

I'd love to be able to get 94UL for my plane.

 

[Kiddo's Driver]

UL94 is basically 100LL base formula with zero lead in it. The lead is worth 6 octane points.

I'd love to be able to get 94UL for my plane.

Me too...
The CAA has said that if an airframe is approved to run 100LL it is approved to run UL91, as long as the engine manufacturer approves the fuel.
https://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/20121...Unleaded Aviation Gasoline (Avgas) UL91_3.pdf
Lycoming approved UL91, for example:
http://www.lycoming.com/Lycoming/Ne...STM-D7547-UL-91-Unleaded-Avgas-Approvals.aspx
From there you go to a Lycoming Service Instruction that lists what fuels can be used in which engines:
http://www4.total.fr/germany/Lycoming Service Instruction 1070S.pdf

My Socata Tampico is approved to use 100LL fuel. The Lycoming SI lists my engine as approved to run UL91. That means in Europe I could run it on UL91 with no STC. The only additional requirement is that I use Lycomings additive (LW-16702) or an oil product containing the additive. (They list Aeroshell 15W50.)

If this logic carries through to the US, my 100LL approved Tampico could run on UL94 with no STC. I would love to see the FAA step up and issue something like that.