FAA Unleaded Aviation Gasoline Transition Plan Sets Route to 2030

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA – Federal Aviation Administration) released this week its Unleaded Aviation Gasoline Transition Plan, setting out a roadmap for safely integrating unleaded fuel across the general aviation fleet.

Phased route to unleaded aviation gasoline

The plan adopts a staged approach: it covers fuel testing and approval, builds practical market experience, delivers the nationwide transition, and manages the distinct, one-off transition requirements in Alaska.

Industry partnership and the 2030 requirement

“Moving to unleaded fuel is a positive step for the general aviation community and for people who live and work near general aviation airports,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Our push to safely integrate unleaded fuels is a collaborative effort involving everyone from aircraft manufacturers and fuel suppliers to airports and pilots in the cockpit.”

The plan fulfils a provision of the 2024 FAA Reauthorisation Act, which requires the agency to partner with the aviation industry to safely transition the piston-engine fleet to the use of unleaded aviation gasoline by 2030. This collaboration has been delivered through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions initiative (EAGLE – Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions).

Testing, approvals and public feedback

As part of the first phase of the transition, the FAA is testing three different fuels at the William J Hughes Technical Centre to address key performance and compatibility questions. Once this first phase is complete, the FAA will revise the plan.

In January 2026, the FAA published a draft version of the transition plan and invited public comment. The agency used that feedback to strengthen and clarify the final plan. The FAA will summarise the comments in a supporting document due to be published in late 2026.

Additional context: EAGLE workstreams and supporting measures

Working with EAGLE stakeholders, the FAA is leading several efforts to expand the production and use of unleaded aviation gasoline:

• Running the FAA’s Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI – Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative) to support Fleet Authorisation for UL100 from LyondellBasell/VP Racing, and the recent addition of Swift Fuels’ 100R into PAFI.
• Speeding the introduction of high-octane unleaded fuel through the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) pathway to approve GAMI’s G100UL and Swift Fuels’ 100R.
• Supporting a safe and efficient transition by encouraging airports to introduce unleaded fuel alternatives, while requiring that 100LL availability is maintained for aircraft during the transition.
• To avoid premature supply disruptions during the rollout, applying Federal Grant Assurance obligations to ensure airports continue to provide leaded 100LL until safe, fleet-wide unleaded alternatives are widely available locally.

FAA information