The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its Transition Plan for Unleaded Aviation Gasoline on July 30, 2026, providing a roadmap to safely integrate unleaded fuel into the general aviation fleet. The plan uses a phased approach to address fuel testing and authorization, gather market experience, execute the national transition, and manage the unique transition in Alaska.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the transition to unleaded fuel is a positive step forward for the general aviation community and people who live and work near general aviation airports, describing it as a collaborative effort involving aircraft manufacturers, fuel suppliers, airports, and pilots.
The plan fulfills a provision of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act requiring the agency to partner with the aviation industry to safely transition the piston-engine fleet to unleaded aviation gas by 2030. This partnership was carried out through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative. As part of the first phase, the FAA is testing three different fuels at the William J Hughes Technical Center to address key questions concerning performance and compatibility, and will update the plan after the first phase is complete.
In January 2026, the FAA published a draft of the transition plan and invited public comments. The agency used these comments to improve and clarify the final plan. The FAA will summarize the comments in a supplemental document that will publish in late 2026.
The FAA, in collaboration with EAGLE stakeholders, is leading several initiatives, including executing the FAA Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) to support Fleet Authorization for LyondellBasell/VP Racing's UL100 and the recent addition of Swift Fuels' 100R to PAFI. The FAA is also expediting the rollout of high-octane unleaded fuel by using the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) pathway to approve GAMI's G100UL and Swift Fuels' 100R, while encouraging airports to introduce unleaded fuel alternatives and requiring the maintenance of 100LL availability through the transition. To prevent premature supply disruptions, the FAA is enforcing Federal Grant Assurance obligations to ensure airports continue to offer leaded 100LL until safe, fleet-wide unleaded alternatives are widely and locally accessible.
