Golden West Jet Center at Oxnard Airport (KOXR), California, is the latest FBO or airport to announce the availability of Swift Fuels UL94 unleaded aviation fuel, which it supplies along with 100 Low Lead.
The Avfuel-branded FBO said April 10 that it received its first shipment of UL94 in March. UL94 does not contain tetraethyllead and currently satisfies the requirements of 66% of the U.S. piston-engine aircraft fleet, according to industry sources.
The unleaded fuel can be used in aircraft with Swift Fuels supplemental type certificates. Golden West Jet Center will continue to sell 100LL avgas, which is stored in a separate fuel farm tank and pumped from a separate fuel truck at county-owned KOXR.
“It took several months to work through the logistics on how we were going to store the fuel,” said Golden West Jet Center General Manager Priscilla Howden. “In the end, Avfuel was able to send us a second fuel truck and we received the UL94 by a truck-to-truck transfer. Oxnard Airport Ops was on site to ensure a smooth process.”
The FBO joins a growing list of airports and FBOs that have recently announced the current or coming availability of UL94, including Reid-Hillview, San Martin and Santa Monica airports in California, Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado, and FBO APP Jet Center at Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, California.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA), which represents FBOs and other aviation businesses, in September 2022 released a white paper, “Unleaded Avgas Conversion Considerations for Aviation Fuel Providers,” to assist FBOs in the transition from leaded to unleaded avgas. The association also provides information and support for pilots.
Curt Castagna, NATA president and CEO, said the Golden West Jet Center announcement demonstrates progress toward the industry-FAA Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) program goal of eliminating leaded aviation fuel nationwide by 2030.
“As more locations consider adding an additional grade of fuel at airports, it is crucial to include NATA’s free misfueling prevention training and other safety resources as an integral part of that process,” Castagna said.
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