There are a number of media reports, websites and blogs here and there about the transition process to an unleaded 100 octane avgas, which illustrate two serious misconceptions of the aircraft owners who must have 100 octane avgas. Until these misconceptions are addressed honestly, GA is going to tear itself apart.

Misconception 1: The amount of 100 octane avgas that is used or needed by GA is not known accurately. The worn-out statistic that is always thrown out in the press and at meetings needs to be challenged and then replaced by accurate numbers. This is the statistic that is oft repeated, “While these operators represent about 30% of the general aviation piston fleet, they consume about 70% of the fuel.” It is very important for those start-up companies that might be planning to make a 100 octane replacement that the consumption statistic by target audience be accurate, but this statement isn’t accurate. Nobody knows exactly where it came from, but it has been repeated over and over for almost a decade, that I know of, in the aviation press. That doesn’t make it true!

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Thanks to Sam Hokin, creator of the new PURE-GAS listing of gas stations carrying ethanol-free gasolines, your bloggers are pleased to report that hundreds of KwikTrip gas stations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa now sell premium, ethanol-free gasoline. Marketed as recreational gasoline, this 91 octane fuel is ideal for all aircraft with Mogas STCs and all Rotax and Jabiru powered aircraft.

Pilots are always advised to check any gasoline for ethanol using a simple tester described by Petersen Aviation. According to KwikTrip officials, the recreational gasoline is in strong demand from owners of boats, ATVs, snowmobiles and others who need ethanol-free gasoline. They intend to offer this fuel indefinitely.

If your airport is located in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota or Iowa, we suggest you contact the nearest KwikTrip to learn who supplies their fuel, then contact them for possible deliveries of Mogas to your airport.  We wish KwikTrip great success with its recreational gasoline, and hope that this encourages others to follow their lead.

The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft. They are:

• Dean Billing (Sisters, Ore.) – an expert on autogas and ethanol
• Kent Misegades (Cary, N.C.) – an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist
• Todd Petersen (Minden, Neb.) – former aerial applicator and owner of more than 150 Mogas STCs for aircraft

For a list of airports that have ethanol-free fuel and those no longer pumping it, compiled by the authors, follow this link.

PURE-GAS is a new effort to inform motorists of suppliers of ethanol-free gasoline across the U.S. and Canada. If you know of stations carrying E0 that do not appear on this list, it is simple to add to it. The listing currently has more than 1,000 stations carrying E0 in one or more grades. These stations are often near or on marinas as boaters, like aviators, generally may not use fuels containing ethanol.

About 70%-80% of the fleet of piston engine aircraft may legally and safely operate on unleaded, ethanol-free 91 octane (premium) gasoline. Virtually all of the new LSA fleet uses engines (Rotax, Jabiru) that have been designed to be run on 91 octane gasoline, not 100LL.  The majority of legacy GA piston aircraft may also burn Mogas under STCs from Petersen Aviation or the EAA. These STCs cost little and involve only paperwork; they require no expensive modifications to the engine or powerplant. If you are interested in adding a Mogas pump to your local airfield, contact the bloggers through their new website FLY UNLEADED.

In their continued efforts to provide pilots with affordable, safe, approved alternatives to 100LL now, the GAFuels bloggers have launched FLY UNLEADED. This new website consolidates information concerning 100LL, efforts to find an unleaded replacement for 100LL, and Mogas.

For 70%-80% of all piston-engine aircraft in the U.S., and for virtually 100% o fthe new LSA fleet, unleaded, ethanol-free premium (91 octane) gasoline (Mogas) is the best, most affordable fuel available today. FLY UNLEADED documents where you can find the fuel and what actions are recommended to add additional Mogas fuel pumps at your local airport. As an added bonus, FLY UNLEADED includes a store offering items you can purchase to show your concern to “get the lead out” and to use Mogas to lower the cost of flying.

For a listing of gasoline stations across the country providing ethanol-free Mogas, see PURE-GAS. If you know of other stations not on this list, it is simple to add them.

There is a raging debate over the future of 100 octane avgas and Lycoming’s view about the problem on an  AVwebinsider Blog by Paul Bertorelli. The gist is that TCM thinks most of its engines would work on 94 UL, or could be made to work on it, and Lycoming says that there must be a 100 octane gasoline. Of course, this is all wrapped in the context that GA can only afford to have one avgas.

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Submitted by Dean Billing

VAN’s RV-12 aircraft are being completed at an accelerating rate and it is now beginning to dawn on the owners that there are very few airports that have mogas, and of the ones listed in AirNav there is no distinction between regular and premium gas. These new RV-12s are powered by 100HP Rotax 912-series engines, which are best operated with premium (91 AKI) mogas. Here’s a recent posting by RV-12 builder Marty Santic: “Anyone know of a reasonably good listing of FBOs that have 91/92 octane MOGAS available. AirNav.com allows you to search for FBO’s that have MOGAS BUT the FBOs that I have called have 87 octane for the low compression STC engine crowd. … There are a BUNCH of 912/914s out there, would think someone has put together such a list.”

It would be very helpful, as more and more LSA aircraft and RV-12s ply our skies, for AirNav to make the fuel listings for mogas more informative. It should also be kept in mind that as terminals convert to producing E10 to satisfy the unintended consequences of the federal RFS mandate in EISA 2007, regular gasoline may be blended first since the terminal will recoup the conversion costs for the tanks and ethanol injectors through the blenders credit. Airports may be forced to convert to premium unleaded to continue getting mogas. At least that is how it has played out here in the Northwest. For a list of airports that have ethanol-free fuel and those no longer pumping it, compiled by the authors, follow this link.

This is an open letter to AOPA, EAA, GAMA, LAMA, USUA and any other organization that cares about general aviation: What are you going to do when the specification for 94 UL avgas is approved by ASTM? How are you going to mitigate the public relations debacle that is going to come?

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I am constantly asked what we can do to prepare for the coming fuel debacle if no timely replacement for 100LL is found.

Work on our aviation alphabets to support two pumps on every airport selling fuel.  Some 20 years ago, this was mostly the case.  What is ironic is that in the proposals the aviation alphabet groups have published, or talked about publicly, they admit that they will probably need a two fuel solution, especially during any transition from 100 LL.

We propose that aviation quit being so proud and independent and start acting like the ethanol industry.  Ask Congress for subsidies and tax credits.  The ethanol industry has been getting them for 30 years.  They have generous tax credits for gas station infrastructure upgrades for E85.  Why can’t the touted General Aviation Caucus in Congress pass generous tax credits for adding fueling infrastructure on our public use airports?

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