FAA Releases Final Unleaded Avgas Transition Plan for 2030

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published its final 72-page roadmap on July 30, 2026, detailing a four-phase strategy to eliminate leaded aviation fuel from the United States general aviation piston-engine fleet by 2030.

Released in partnership with the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, the “Transition Plan for Unleaded Aviation Gasoline” fulfills a legal mandate under Section 827 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act. The agency stated in a press release that the transition represents a major operational shift aimed at eliminating lead emissions while maintaining the safety and utility of the piston-engine aircraft fleet.

Phased rollout and regional timelines

The transition plan establishes a target completion date of 2030 for the contiguous United States. Alaska will operate under an extended timeline, with a target transition date of 2032, due to the state’s unique fuel distribution infrastructure and operational challenges.

The document outlines four specific phases for the transition. The FAA projects that Phase 1, which encompasses fuel authorizations and comparison testing, will conclude in the spring of 2027. The agency is currently evaluating three candidate fuels at the William J. Hughes Technical Center: G100UL from General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI), 100R from Swift Fuels, and UL100 from LyondellBasell & VP Racing. GAMI’s G100UL already holds broad Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval.

Safety requirements and supply continuity

FAA leadership emphasized that safety metrics will dictate the pace of the rollout. Speaking at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention on July 20, 2026, FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau described the 2030 mandate as aggressive.

“I can tell you with confidence, we’re not going to set an arbitrary date without making sure that whatever we’re going to put in those aircraft is safe,” Rocheleau stated.

To prevent supply disruptions during the transition period, the FAA is enforcing Federal Grant Assurance obligations. This enforcement ensures that airports continue offering leaded 100LL fuel until safe, fleet-wide unleaded alternatives become widely accessible at the local level. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted that the integration effort requires collaboration across aircraft manufacturers, fuel suppliers, airports, and pilots.

The FAA also plans to publish a supplemental document in late 2026 summarizing the public comments received on the draft plan, which was initially published in January 2026. FAA Senior Technical Specialist for Aviation Fuels Paul Wrzesinski indicated that public feedback was utilized to strengthen the final plan and clarify transition details.

AirPro News analysis

We view the FAA’s formalization of the 2030 and 2032 deadlines as a critical step in the long-delayed transition away from 100LL. While the 72-page plan provides a structured four-phase framework, the agency’s public acknowledgment that the timeline is aggressive suggests potential flexibility if testing uncovers safety or compatibility issues. The success of this mandate will likely hinge on the production scaling and distribution logistics of the three candidate fuels currently under evaluation, rather than just their technical certification.

Sources: Federal Aviation Administration