GAMI's 100 octane unleaded fuel approved in the US

In an industry first, 100 octane unleaded fuel has been approved by the US aviation authority, the FAA.

The 100UL fuel developed by General Aviation Modifications Inc (GAMI) has received an STC and can be used in every General Aviation spark-ignition engine and every airframe powered by those engines.

It’s an announcement that’s been welcomed across the GA industry as a way of reducing the use of leaded fuel.

AOPA in the US has championed GAMI’s 100UL, helping the company get the product through the convoluted certification process.

AOPA president Mark Baker said, “I’m proud of GAMI, the industry team, and the FAA for persevering over the long term and getting a fuel that the FAA has recognized as a viable alternative to low lead.

“It’s vital that we find solutions to what has been plaguing General Aviation since the seventies. It’s certainly the biggest issue I have dealt with in my time at AOPA.”

This is a sigbificant expansion over a previous STC which allowed the GAMI 100UL fuel to be used in a small number of Cessna 172 engines, followed by other low compression engines. That’s now changed and higher compression engines are now included.

GAMI cofounder George Braly said, “This is a big day for the industry. It means that for a lot of our general aviation communities, and especially for a high fraction on the West Coast, relief is on the way.”

Braly acknowledged AOPA’s role. “Without it we couldn’t have gotten this done,” he said.

It will take some time before the 100UL fuel is freely available. Not only has the supply chain – “still wounded” said Braly – to fully recover but manufacturing and distribution needs to be expanded. The Californian market will be the first to be addressed.

Cost of the GAMI 100UL is likely to be slightly more than current 100LL avgas until production ramps up to “million of gallons”. However, Braly said 100UL would still be cheaper in the US than what European pilots are currently paying for avgas.

General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO, Pete Bunce, said,” “As we continue to work towards a safe and reliable transition to an unleaded future state for piston-engine aircraft, FAA issuance of a broader STC for GAMI’s G100UL is a significant milestone.

“Manufacturers look forward to having an opportunity to understand the composition and performance of this new fuel to support commercialization and use as a viable replacement for 100LL.”

GAMI