California is a governor's signature away from banning leaded aviation gasoline statewide. The California state Senate on Thursday passed bill that would outlaw the fuel starting in 2031. California is the first state to pass a leaded fuel ban. Several other states have similar legislation moving through their legislatures. The Senate vote passed 30-28. The day before, the House passed the bill, SB1193, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Caroline Menjivar by 59-11. It now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign. He could veto it but based on the two votes it would pass anyway with the required two-thirds majority to defeat a veto.
And the saga continues… California has taken the “bold step” of banning something that will have already gone away nationwide if the EAGLE project is successful. But then we all know how much progress has been accomplished by that FAA program.
As I am planning on moving back to California when I retire (SLO county) this gives me some added stress.
I specifically ordered my Maule when I had it built to have an engine that is approved for Mogas, but I believe all Mogas in California is all contaminated with alcohol so that door is closed.
It’s entirely possible that no (affordable and readily available) alternative will be available, thus effectively killing GA in the entire state.
Flying is one of my great Earthly joys and I am looking forward to doing much more of it in retirement.
News this bad, although expected, may affect where I move.
I currently live in Washington state, whose policies mirror California, so staying here will likely provide no benefit.
Long overdue. Long past time for GA to realize that it has to reform its image from lead-spewing aircraft flown by a small number of folks into one which is appealing, innovative, interesting, and healthy. I’ve been flying in California and around the world for nearly 40 years and have wanted GA to continue to be the fun adventuring experience it often is. The emergence of drones, air taxis, space, and so much more are all in contrast to the decline we see in GA. The lead needs to go as there is very little worse to be associated with.
And let’s not get into hating on California. Seriously. We’re as successful a place as exists on the planet and the vast majority of the world wants to be here. Aviation owes a lot to California and perhaps this latest move will help move GA into the future.
Every state has good and bad, it all depends what your priorities are, and no place will ever meet them all. For me, and 40 million other people, California is good. You can live where you choose also.
I would normally say that I don’t think CA even has the authority to ban 100LL since aviation is interstate commerce and thus controlled at the federal level. However, with the destruction of the Chevron Deference by the SCOTUS, that may give way to actually allowing this ban to go into effect.
This just means that like it or not, there has to be a drop-in replacement for 100LL, or GA as we know it will end in 2030. And such a fuel does exist right now, if only we can get it to be distributed to the airports.
This will create an interesting legal situation if the unleaded fuel research goes nowhere. Could the FAA claim exclusive jurisdiction under the supremacy clause of the US constitution and overrule any state enacted ban? Or maybe the industry will be forced to accept GAMI’s fuel and make it available nationwide. This mess keeps getting worse as time goes by!
“California is the first state to pass a leaded fuel ban. Several other states have similar legislation moving through their legislatures.”
It might be starting in CA, but it most certainly won’t end in CA. If enough states ban 100LL (and especially if they currently use a lot of fuel), it doesn’t really matter what state you live in if the producers feel it is no longer economially viable for them to produce it. And even if you happen to fly an aircraft that doesn’t require 100LL, and you happen to be in a state where you can readily find non-ethanol-contaminated fuel (in many states, this is not the case), it will still ultimately affect you.
You may think about getting a fuel tank and having it filled with non-ethanol fuel. I haven’t checked California but, many states like Washington have distributors that offer non-ethanol at their distribution facility and you can fill the tank in the back of your truck.
This should have been done a long time before now by the Federal Government. To bad California has to be the leader when it comes to doing the right thing just because Federal politics is such a mess.
I wouldn’t count on that EAGLE initiative to actually work and fix the leaded fuel problem as many other initiatives have come and gone with no result. Putting the end of lead six years away, is still is too far and shows that California is not really that strong of a leader. If California was really a leader in this matter, they would start, mandating that some alternative unleaded fuel be available at all airports in California alongside the leaded fuel. This would help reduce the hazard of lead and give the consumer a choice.
The CA SB1193 is tied to the FAA reauthorization bill, which has the same text, eliminating 100LL on Dec 31,2030.
see 49 U.S. Code § 47107 section [22];
We need to get the GAMI fuel in the market place right away so we have a few years to tweak the formula if there are problems. The worst thing that can happen is we get a politically connected fuel supplier to make a fuel just a few months before the ban takes affect, and then we find out it doesn’t work right after the 100LL infrastructure goers away.
I would agree with the comment made “don’t hate California.” And I live and lfy here.
But emotion aside, there are other considerations (besides health and environmental concerns) that should drive a move to unleaded fuel – what about supply chain? Look at where the supplier for TEL is located.
But that said – what about research needed to make sure the new fuel is safe? Compatibility goes far beyond making sure an engine runs properly. This goes to the point that JohnS makes.
And – as a closing note – electric has its place but it doesn’t solve the problem – either for autos or for airplanes.
Belief is one thing, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to check out this website which shows a list of 24 places in California that sell ethanol-free gasoline:
I have been to the Sinclair station listed in Indio, and can confirm the past availability of their ethanol-free 110 octane Mogas. It’s spendy, and the 100 Octane stuff at VP fuels in Paso Robles (in SLO county) may be even worse, but ethanol-free Mogas is certainly available in California.
California has a history of making strong environmental decisions, like switching to unleaded gasoline, which greatly improved air quality. There were complaints back in the 1950s and 1960s, but now 40 million people enjoy cleaner air. Phasing out leaded aviation fuel follows the same idea—helping the industry move forward and keeping people healthy. These changes might be tough at first, but they lead to a cleaner, healthier future for Californians.
It’s why I bought my turbine Bonanza. I am sure a substitute will be found but none of the engine manufacturers are going to certify their engine to use it. No one is going to take the risk and since lawyers rule the country, good luck to the piston users.