Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

On Friday, one day after the FAA issued a draft policy statement on authorizing use of unleaded avgas for all piston-engine airplanes and helicopters, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a “<a href="https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/regulations-lead-emissions-aircraft" target="_blank">proposed determination</a>” that lead emissions from these aircraft using 100LL “cause or contribute to lead air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare.”

 


After considering comments on the proposal, the EPA plans to issue any final endangerment finding in 2023. If the EPA makes such a determination, the agency would subsequently propose regulatory standards for lead emissions from aircraft engines.

 


Said EPA: “Such a final determination would also trigger the FAA’s statutory mandate to prescribe standards for the composition or chemical or physical properties of an aircraft fuel or fuel additive to control or eliminate aircraft lead emissions.”

 


In <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-09-02/gami-secures-piston-fleet-approval-unleaded-avgas" target="_blank">September</a>, the FAA granted supplemental type certificates (STC) for the use of Ada, Oklahoma-based General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI) G100UL high-octane unleaded fuel in the piston-powered aircraft fleet.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-09/PS-AIR-20-2000-DRAFT_Policy.pdf" target="_blank">Draft FAA document PS–AIR–20–2000</a>&nbsp;provides the process for approving the piston aircraft fleet as a whole in lieu of obtaining individual aircraft model STCs. The FAA will continue to support applicants seeking approvals that would allow the use of unleaded fuel formulations via the traditional STC and amended TC process.

 


Comments on draft PS–AIR–20–2000 are due by December 5.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

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News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

UK’s ‘Operation Blue Skies’ to redirect commercial traffic in Shanwick airspace

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Curt Epstein

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News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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