AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 10

AOPA ACTION
TOP STOR IES /
F EPA releases endangerment finding
inding poses no immediate threat to GA
adversely impact safety and hinder commerce.
This action does not cause aircraft
to be grounded or become prohibited from
using 100LL. "
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA and
A N E N V I R ONME N T A L P R O T E C T I ON
Agency endangerment finding published
in October 2023 echoes the general aviation
industry's ongoing commitment
to get lead out of avgas. Industry stakeholders
are aware of the urgency and are
already working on a safe and smart transition
to a lead-free solution for the entire
piston-engine fleet.
The finding puts into motion a multiyear,
multistep regulatory rulemaking
process from the EPA and the FAA but
should have no immediate impact on the
availability of 100LL at airports, as the
EPA is not given the authority to ban, regulate,
or limit aviation fuel.
" We expected this finding for some
time now, " said AOPA President Mark
Baker. " In essence, it mirrors the GA industry's
commitment to get lead out of avgas
by 2030, if not sooner. However, it is as
important to note what the finding does
not mean-it does not mean that 100LL
is going away before we have viable alternatives.
It also does not mean that airports
should stop offering 100LL, as it would
AOPA defends Lock Haven
P I LO TS AT W I LL I A M T. Piper
Memorial Airport (LHV) in Lock
Haven, Pennsylvania, are fighting to
keep their airport open after the city
manager sent a notice announcing
the city was pursuing sale or closure
of the airport because of the cost of
keeping it open.
Because the airport received
more than $4 million in FAA airport
improvement program funds
over the past 20 years-including a
grant for the acquisition of airport
land-the closure of the airport
10
AOPA PILOT / January 2024
without consent of the FAA would
be a violation of the city's grant
obligations.
Closure would also create a $13
million loss in economic impact to
the community,
AOPA Airport Support Network
volunteer and airport tenant Alan
Uhler worked with local pilots to
establish an informal airport support
group of more than 100 tenants,
pilots, and airport advocates with
a vested interest in keeping the
airport open.
the FAA must consult with each other on
rulemaking requirements, to ensure they
are developed in a manner that does not
adversely impact aviation safety. The EPA
is not proposing aircraft engine lead emission
standards with this action.
The GA industry has been working
alongside the EPA to eliminate lead
from avgas. In February 2022 aviation
stakeholders-including GA leaders, fuel
manufacturers, and the FAA-launched
the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead
Emissions (EAGLE) initiative. These initiative
leaders and the GA industry are
determined to transition all piston-engine
aircraft to lead-free avgas by 2030. In the
meantime, airports must keep 100LL
available for pilots to fly safely.
Learn more about AOPA's effort to
demonstrate the real-world performance
of unleaded fuels in " One Airplane, Two
Fuels, " p. 86.
Advocates awarded
THE WASHINGTON STATE Aviation Alliance (WSAA)
earned the first-ever AOPA Advocacy Partnership
Award for the Northwest Mountain Region for exemplary
commitment to protecting the freedom to fly.
The new award recognizes state and local aviation
associations that worked closely with AOPA
on issues facing their airport, state, or region, and
achieved a common goal through effective airport or
state advocacy.
More online
Read more about these stories and the latest from
AOPA's advocacy team.
aopa.org/advocacy
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024
