As efforts are made to move away from leaded aviation fuel, more types of unleaded fuels are available, some of which are incompatible with certain aircraft. The transition to new products raises the risk of pilots misfuelling their aircraft, particularly planes that require high-octane fuels.
The Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative has posted a warning for pilots regarding the inadvertent use of the wrong type, grade or mix of fuel. The statement is as follows:
“The growing availability of unleaded aviation fuel represents a crucial step toward eliminating lead emissions from aircraft. However, it also introduces new misfuelling risks that occur when the wrong type, grade, or mix of fuel is delivered to an aircraft. With multiple fuel options now available, pilots, aircraft owners and line service personnel must be more vigilant than ever to ensure fueling safety.
“Misfuelling can lead to catastrophic engine failure, which is why clear communication between pilots and line service personnel is essential.
“Pilots should confirm the limitations of the engine and airframe. And, when placing full-service fuel orders, confirm every detail of the order—including type, grade, and volume—with line service personnel, or be aware of these factors when conducting self-service fueling. Aircraft must also have proper logbook documentation and placards installed.
“It is important to note that while the new unleaded fuels are designed to mix with 100LL, it remains uncertain whether they can be safely mixed with each other. Until more information is available, unleaded fuels must not be combined. Again, each engine and/or aircraft may have specific limitations that aircraft owners need to be aware of when fueling their aircraft.”
As unleaded fuels become more prevalent, pilots will need to exercise more diligence to maintain safety and protect their aircraft.
