FAA Approves Use of “Very Low Lead” Fuel

In a Special Airworthiness Bulletin issued last week, the FAA has approved a new fuel—100VLL (very low lead)—for use on aircraft currently operating on 100LL. The approval was the result of collaboration with industry partners on the ASTM International task force that evaluated data supporting the incorporation of grade 100VLL into specification D910. The new fuel is identical to 100LL in all aspects, except that the maximum lead content is reduced by about 19 percent. The FAA determined that 100 VLL meets all of the performance requirements of grades 80, 91, 100, and 100LL and will perform identically in existing aircraft and engines. The fuel also has the same minimum octane rating and provides the same level of anti-knock performance as 100LL and 100 avgas grades. Since the ASTM D910 standard specifies blue coloration for both grade 100VLL avgas and grade 100LL avgas, these fuels will appear identical.