As federal agencies and residents raise concerns about the lead in aviation gasoline, the Centennial Airport announced it will incentivize an unleaded fuel alternative, saying it wants to be a leader among airfields in the transition to unleaded fuels. 

The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in March to provide incentives to tenants and fixed-based operators, which are fuel suppliers, to accelerate the transition from 100 low-lead aviation gas to an alternative unleaded fuel that has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

​​According to the FAA’s website, aviation gasoline is the only transportation fuel in the U.S. to contain lead and is the fuel most commonly used in piston-engine aircraft. In February 2022, the FAA announced an initiative to eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel by the end of 2030. 

“We all agree … that is way too far out on the timeline. And we're aware of the fact that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is gonna have a final finding this year that’ll say that leaded fuel is a hazard to public health,” said Mike Fronapfel, Centennial Airport’s CEO and executive director, during the board meeting.

In October 2022, the EPA proposed an endangerment finding for lead emissions from aircraft engines that operate on leaded fuel. 

“When it comes to our children the science is clear, exposure to lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in a news release. “Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions to air in the country. Today’s proposal is an important step forward as we work to reduce lead exposure and protect children’s health.” 

According to the news release, the EPA’s consideration of endangerment is “a first step toward application of EPA’s authority to address lead pollution.”

An alternative to leaded aviation gasoline is 94UL fuel, which is what Centennial Airport will be incentivizing, the airport announced in a March 21 news release. 

"We have engaged in numerous discussions with the community regarding the use of leaded aviation fuel and are proud to be among the first general aviation airports in the country to commit to this transition," Fronapfel said in the release. "One of our goals is to be able to provide a framework that other airports around the nation can use to make this transition as well."

The board of commissioners authorized airport staff to allocate funds toward exploring and implementing strategies to help facilitate the transition to unleaded fuel, according to the release. 

One of the strategies is offering financial assistance toward “supplemental type certificates” for aircraft based at Centennial Airport, per the release. These certificates are required for reciprocating engine aircraft to get before using the unleaded fuels, according to the resolution approved by the board of commissioners. 

“You are required to get a supplemental type certificate for the aircraft, which basically is just a verification of the type of engine that’s on that aircraft and the ability of that engine to burn the 94 unleaded fuel,” Fronapfel said during the board meeting.

Another strategy is offering financial subsidies to help bring the cost of unleaded aviation fuel closer to the current price of 100 low-lead fuel. 

“The cost differential is about $4 a gallon if we have the fuel delivered in … 350-gallon totes. And so the airport will be stepping up and paying that differential to bring it in line with the cost of the low-lead fuel,” Fronapfel said.

Additional funds for these efforts became available after the Centennial Airport was awarded a $4 million grant from the FAA for the design of a new air traffic control tower, according to the release.

“The tower project already had funds allocated towards it in the 2023 budget, allowing the airport the ability to direct these funds towards the move to unleaded fuel,” the airport said in its release. 

The timetable for a complete transition to unleaded fuel has not been set, the airport said in its release. However, it expects that the 94UL will be available by this summer. 

“I’m hoping that we’re gonna be able to begin this transition in the next couple of months,” Fronapfel said at the board meeting. 

Fronapfel said two flight schools, Aspen Flying Club and Flights Inc., have already indicated that they want to transition to using 94UL. 

“Initially, our primary users will be the flight schools, and I think they’re the ones that will have the biggest — it will result in the biggest positive impact on the community as a result of that. The aircraft, if they do happen to be flying over the community, that they’ll be the ones that’ll be flying and using that cleaner fuel,” he said. 

In response to a question about the certification of a different type of unleaded fuel, called G100, Fronapfel said that from his understanding, there is no production or distribution of that fuel yet. 

“Everything I’ve heard, it’ll — it’s gonna take up to two years to get enough produced and distributed to make it really put a dent in what we’re trying to do … which is why we’re looking at, on an interim basis, using the 94UL to kind of bridge that gap,” he said. “I think as soon as the 100 becomes available, that's the ultimate answer to this issue. And so I think, at that point, we would transition fully over to the 100.”