FAA Continues To Stall On G100UL - AVweb

I saw only a couple of comments that touch on the problem of how to deliver 100UL to pilots who want to buy it. FBOs sell the fuel consumed by GA aircraft. I talked to my FBO’s airport managers and they are waiting for a single fuel that they can sell to all piston aircraft. They can’t afford to install a separate tank or buy a separate truck for 100UL when there are still many aircraft that require 100LL. Enough pilots need to buy the 100UL to cover their costs and produce some profit. GAMI is the farthest along on 100UL for the largest number of engines in the GA piston fleet so I say, support GAMI. It would help greatly if the FAA would drop the requirement for an STC on the make/model engine/airframe requirement. I worked in the federal government for 23 years and had an opportunity to learn how bureaucracies work. They are paralyzed by many factors: funding, incompetency at high levels, constant management changes, differing agendas at various management levels, unclear or conflicting mission requirements, a maze of legislation that defies interpretation, massive problems revising or creating new regulations, changing priorities from external entities such as the President, Congress, GA manufacturers and fuel manufacturers. It’s a wonder to me that they get anything done. Given all those obstacles, relying on the FAA to solve the unleaded fuel problem is doomed. It will take coherent pressure from the President and Congress and cooperation from GA manufacturers and fuel manufacturers. Writing to your representatives and senators is a good start to applying that pressure. Right now there is public sympathy that favors paying more for fuel to get rid of the lead since everyone agrees that lead is bad for the environment and people. If enough senators and representatives feel that public sympathy is high enough to keep them in office by supporting a push for approval of GAMI’s 100UL for piston engines and airframes, then that might produce some action from the FAA. The news media can be a help or hindrance here. Stories about bureaucratic paralysis that prevents the removal of a dangerous environmental hazard that makes people (including children) sick could help make things happen.