FAA Expands Approval for Unleaded 100R Avgas to Over 1,600 Aircraft Models
In a significant development for general aviation’s anticipated shift from leaded fuel, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has substantially broadened the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Swift Fuels’ 100R unleaded aviation gasoline. The expansion includes over 1,200 piston engine models and 1,600 airframe models to its Approved Model List (AML).
The newly approved aircraft collectively represent approximately 56% of all 100LL avgas consumed across the United States. This is a considerable segment of the current fleet. The airframe expansion encompasses about 118 Cessna aircraft, 101 Beechcraft models, 98 Piper aircraft, and numerous others from Mooney, Grumman, Stinson, WACO, and Fairchild.
West Lafayette, Indiana-based Swift Fuels characterizes this as Phase I of its comprehensive unleaded avgas transition plan. Phase II and Phase III approvals, which cover higher-performance and larger-bore engines, are projected to be rolled out through 2026, 2027, and early 2028. The fuel aligns with ASTM International’s production specification D8603 and is currently the only commercially available 100-octane unleaded avgas operating under FAA-approved STCs.
The FAA’s ultimate objective is to cease the use of 100LL leaded avgas across the general aviation fleet by the end of 2030, with Alaska given until 2032. For pilots and aircraft owners, the expansion implies that transitioning to cleaner fuel is now a viable, near-term option for millions of flight hours annually.
Source: General Aviation News – FAA Approves 100R Unleaded Avgas for More Aircraft