FAA Approves Swift Fuels’ Unleaded Avgas 100R for Over 1,200 Engine Models
In a significant stride towards eradicating leaded aviation fuel from U.S. airspace, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has substantially broadened the Approved Model List (AML) for Swift Fuels’ 100R unleaded aviation gasoline. This certification permits its usage in more than 1,200 piston engine models and 1,600 airframe models. This is a considerable increase from the original Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) first granted in September 2024.
The recently approved engines and airframes, certified via STC by the FAA’s Central Certification Branch, encompass products from over 80 manufacturers. This includes major players like Lycoming (~395 models), Continental (~195 models), Curtiss Wright, and Pratt & Whitney. On the airframe side, approvals cover models from Textron Aviation (Cessna and Beechcraft), Piper, Grumman, WACO, and many others. Collectively, these Phase 1 approvals cover aircraft that account for approximately 56% of all 100LL avgas consumed in the United States.
Swift Fuels officials have confirmed that this announcement signifies Phase 1 of the company’s comprehensive unleaded transition plan. The forthcoming Phase 2 and Phase 3 approvals, targeting higher-performance engines, are anticipated through 2027 and early 2028. The fuel complies with ASTM International fuel specification D8603 and is currently the only commercially available 100-octane unleaded avgas with both FAA STC approval and an ASTM production spec. The FAA has established a nationwide deadline to transition away from leaded 100LL avgas by the end of 2030.
Source: General Aviation News | AVweb