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0 pointss1dev5y ago0 comments

The problem with the 100LL phase-out is that you have over 70 years of engines and fuel systems designed to work with leaded fuel.

In order to complete the phase-out you either need to: force people to put a new $30K+ engine into a <$50K plane, totally replace the fuel system, and get a supplemental type certificate or: Require that the new fuel is a drop in replacement. One would have to show that the new fuel is 100% compatible with 100LL without modifications to the aircraft.

The FAA has been attempting the second route for some years, but to date has not been terribly successful. The first route has been done successfully in other regions such as the EU, but I would suspect there is far less legacy general aviation aircraft. I personally look forward to the mainstream introduction of diesel engines into the US market that are able to run on Jet-A

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manquer5y ago

You have a sensible third option which is how automotive changed for the most part.

Grandfather in current planes and mandate new models to use new fuel only. Over time, perhaps lot longer than cars(planes do have longer life) you will have changed all of them.

Had they started it in 80's and 90's same time as auto-mobiles, most planes would have changed by now.

Every industry faces the same challenges to transform technology, they are able to move forward without as much difficulty as aviation ?

TylerE5y ago

No they wouldn't.

You're underestimating the age of the fleet.

The average GA aircraft is 50 years old, and that is likely to increase in the near-medium term as production of GA aircraft is practically zero.

Source: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/20....

(Cirrus, mentioned above, produces about 300 aircraft a year - compare to the 100,000+ Ceessnas on GA fields, almost all of which are over 40 years old.

manquer5y ago

1980 is 40 years ago now . In another 10 years half the fleet would have changed .. still better than we are now .

You could also speed it up by making costlier to run older ones over time . Keeps the industry more active too..

TylerE5y ago

You're assuming production is constant - it isn't. It vastly dropped off in the early 80s due to increasing liability costs, and has never recovered.

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dreamcompiler5y ago

> I personally look forward to the mainstream introduction of diesel engines into the US market that are able to run on Jet-A.

Seconded. 50 years ago diesel engines were too heavy for light aircraft, but the weight problem with diesels has been solved.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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manquer5y ago

You have a sensible third option which is how automotive changed for the most part.

Grandfather in current planes and mandate new models to use new fuel only. Over time, perhaps lot longer than cars(planes do have longer life) you will have changed all of them.

Had they started it in 80's and 90's same time as auto-mobiles, most planes would have changed by now.

Every industry faces the same challenges to transform technology, they are able to move forward without as much difficulty as aviation ?

TylerE5y ago

No they wouldn't.

You're underestimating the age of the fleet.

The average GA aircraft is 50 years old, and that is likely to increase in the near-medium term as production of GA aircraft is practically zero.

Source: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/20....

(Cirrus, mentioned above, produces about 300 aircraft a year - compare to the 100,000+ Ceessnas on GA fields, almost all of which are over 40 years old.

manquer5y ago

1980 is 40 years ago now . In another 10 years half the fleet would have changed .. still better than we are now .

You could also speed it up by making costlier to run older ones over time . Keeps the industry more active too..

TylerE5y ago

You're assuming production is constant - it isn't. It vastly dropped off in the early 80s due to increasing liability costs, and has never recovered.

1 more reply

dreamcompiler5y ago

> I personally look forward to the mainstream introduction of diesel engines into the US market that are able to run on Jet-A.

Seconded. 50 years ago diesel engines were too heavy for light aircraft, but the weight problem with diesels has been solved.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse