In an article appearing recently in the Raleigh News & Observer, the EPA has stated that more testing is needed before E15 can be used in automobiles. This article also comments on the fuel’s use in other vehicles, however does not mention aircraft. From our perspective, the EPA makes light of hundreds of strong, well-founded […]
Opinion
Climategate scandal widens
21st Century science should be good science, but it isn’t. Climategate scientists prove that money talks. This opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal documents how man-made global-warming theorists have been manipulating data in their efforts to maintain funding of pet projects. Given that such theories provide a fundamental justification for the pursuit of “renewable” […]
Turbulence ahead
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Make sure your seatbelt is fastened tightly as turbulence is expected in 2010. Once again the FAA will be working under a temporary extension. Presidential and Congressional interests have been focused on reforming healthcare, so subjects like reauthorizing a government agency are getting short shrift. When Congress does get around to the […]
Marathon recreational fuel suited for aircraft
Marathon Oil Co. is marketing a 90 octane unleaded non-ethanol gasoline as a recreational fuel for boats. We believe this fuel to be perfectly suited for use with 87 octane auto fuel STCs. In some locations it is one octane point higher, 91 octane. 91 octane is suitable for use with all auto fuel STCs. […]
Alcohol in fuels
The EAA recently published an article in its online “Light Plane World” reviewing the various aspects of operating small aircraft engines when ethanol might be present in Mogas. Building on past work by your bloggers and others, the article does a good job of providing ample warning of the various problems that can occur when […]
SC airport reports continued supply of Mogas
Thanks to Cal Hoffman of the Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL) in Barnwell, S.C., for informing us that the airport has a supply of 93 octane (AKI), ethanol-free, lead-free Mogas on the field. He does not expect any disruptions to the supply in the near future, and suggests that the strong demand for ethanol-free fuel from […]
EPA working with ethanol lobby to force E15 fuels
Your bloggers just came across this letter (download here) from the EPA dated Nov. 30, written to the heads of the ethanol lobby (Gen. Wesley Clark and Jeff Broin of Growth Energy), essentially promising to force E15 on us all next year despite widespread opposition. Car companies and hundreds of other companies and organizations affected […]
Support for ethanol in fuels eroding
Two recent articles in the New York Times chronicle eroding public support for ethanol production mandates and its use in vehicle fuels: “A Growing Disaster”, by Russell Harding, 11/28/2009 “US Unlikely to use the Ethanol Congress Ordered”, Matthew Wald, 11/26/2009 The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about the future availability of […]
ATC under fire
A breakdown of the FAA computers Nov. 19 brought severe criticism from members of Congress, FAA unions, and others. For the second time in just more than a year, the air traffic computer system went down and brought about massive delays for airlines, general aviation flights under instrument flight rules, and other actions that require […]