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.
For more information on 100VLL, refer to SAIB NE-11-55 at
www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB/.
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Eric Pitts
Terre Haute, Indiana
HTTP://eric.pitts.mystarband.net/KR2S.html<http://eric.pitts.mystarband.net/KR2S.html>
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out
and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
