49 U.S.C. § 44714: Aviation fuel standards

standards for the composition or chemical or physical properties of an aircraft fuel or fuel additive to control or eliminate aircraft emissions the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency decides under section 231 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7571 ) endanger the public health or welfare; and regulations providing for carrying out and enforcing those standards. December 31, 2032 ; or has been authorized for use by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration as a replacement for 100-octane low lead aviation gasoline; and meets either an industry consensus standard or other standard that facilitates and ensures the safe use, production, and distribution of such unleaded aviation fuel. in the United States outside of the State of Alaska; or within the State of Alaska after the date specified in paragraph (1).” The Administrator [of the Federal Aviation Administration] shall continue to partner with industry and other Federal Government stakeholders in carrying out the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions Initiative (in this section referred to as the ‘EAGLE Initiative’) through the end of 2030. the safe elimination of the use of leaded aviation gasoline by piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030 without adversely affecting the safe and efficient operation of the piston-engine aircraft fleet; the approval of the use of unleaded alternatives to leaded aviation gasoline for use in all piston-engine aircraft types and piston-engine models; the implementation of the requirements of section 47107(a)(22) of title 49 , United States Code, as added by this Act, as such requirements relate to the continued availability of aviation gasoline; efforts to make unleaded aviation gasoline that is approved for use in piston-engine aircraft and engines widely available for purchase and use at airports in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems; and the development of a transition plan to safely enable the transition of the piston-engine general aviation aircraft fleet to unleaded aviation gasoline by 2030, to the extent practicable. maintain a fleet authorization process for the efficient approval or authorization of eligible piston-engine aircraft and engine models to operate safely using qualified unleaded aviation gasolines; review, update, and prioritize, as soon as practicable, certification processes and projects, as necessary, for aircraft engines and modifications to such engines to operate with unleaded aviation gasoline; seek to facilitate programs that accelerate the creation, evaluation, qualification, deployment, and use of unleaded aviation gasolines; carry out, in partnership with the general aviation community, an ongoing campaign for training and educating aircraft owners and operators on how to safely transition to unleaded aviation gasoline; evaluate aircraft and aircraft engines to ensure that such aircraft and aircraft engines can safely operate with unleaded aviation gasoline candidates during cold weather conditions; and facilitate the development of agency policies and processes, as appropriate, to support the deployment of necessary infrastructure at airports to enable the distribution and storage of unleaded aviation gasolines. general aviation aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion, and aircraft airframe manufacturers; general aviation aircraft users, aircraft owners, aircraft pilots, and aircraft operators; airports and fixed-base operators; State, local, and Tribal aviation officials; representatives of the petroleum industry, including developers, refiners, producers, and distributors of unleaded aviation gasolines; and air carriers and commercial operators operating under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. contains an updated strategic plan for maintaining a fleet authorization process for the efficient approval and authorization of eligible piston-engine aircraft and engine models to operate using unleaded aviation gasolines in a manner that ensures safety; describes the structure and involvement of all FAA offices that have responsibilities described in paragraph (2); and identifies policy initiatives, regulatory initiatives, or legislative initiatives needed to improve and enhance the timely and safe transition to unleaded aviation gasoline for the piston-engine aircraft fleet. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator submits the initial report under subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter through 2030, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on activities and progress of the EAGLE Initiative. Subparagraph (B) shall cease to be effective after December 31, 2030 . safely eliminating the use of leaded aviation gasoline by piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030 without adversely affecting the safe and efficient operation of the piston-engine aircraft fleet; approving the use of unleaded alternatives to leaded aviation gasoline for use in all piston-engine aircraft types and piston-engine models; and facilitating efforts to make approved unleaded aviation gasoline that is approved for use in piston-engine aircraft and engines widely available at airports for purchase and use in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The evaluation and development of necessary airport infrastructure, including fuel storage and dispensing facilities, to support the distribution and storage of unleaded aviation gasoline. conducting fueling operations; disposing of inspected gasoline samples; performing aircraft maintenance; and conducting engine run-ups. Efforts to address supply chain and other logistical barriers inhibiting the timely distribution of unleaded aviation gasoline to airports. Outreach efforts to educate and update piston-engine aircraft owners and operators, airport operators, and other members of the general aviation community on the potential benefits, availability, and safety of unleaded aviation gasoline. make the plan available to the public on an appropriate website of the FAA; and provide guidance supporting the implementation of the transition plan. In supporting the development of such transition plan and issuing associated guidance pertaining to the implementation of such transition plan, the Administrator shall consult and collaborate with individuals carrying out the EAGLE Initiative. The Administrator may collaborate with individuals carrying out the EAGLE Initiative to jointly develop and continuously update websites, brochures, and other communication materials associated with such transition plan to clearly convey the availability of unleaded aviation gasoline at airports. Not later than 60 days after the publication of such transition plan, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on such transition plan and any agency efforts or actions pertaining to the implementation of such transition plan. Nothing in this section shall be construed to delay or alter the ongoing work of the EAGLE Initiative established by the Administrator in 2022.” The standards adopted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in part 1030 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and the requirements in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, that were finalized by the Administrator of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] under the final rule titled ‘Airplane Fuel Efficiency Certification’, and published on February 16, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 12634) in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply to any covered airplane before the date that is 5 years after January 1, 2028 . does not meet the standards and requirements described in subsection (a); and received an original certificate of airworthiness issued by the Administrator on or after January 1, 2028 . is a subsonic jet that is a purpose-built freighter; has a maximum takeoff mass greater than 180,000 kilograms but not greater than 240,000 kilograms; and has a type design certificated prior to January 1, 2023 . was configured to carry cargo rather than passengers prior to receiving an original certificate of airworthiness; and is configured to carry cargo rather than passengers.” determines that the unleaded aviation gasoline qualifies as a replacement for an approved leaded gasoline; identifies the aircraft and engines that are eligible to use the qualified replacement unleaded gasoline; and adopts a process (other than the traditional means of certification) to allow eligible aircraft and engines to operate using qualified replacement unleaded gasoline in a manner that ensures safety. the date on which the [Federal Aviation] Administration completes the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative; or the date on which the American Society for Testing and Materials publishes a production specification for an unleaded aviation gasoline. Existing regulatory mechanisms by which an unleaded aviation gasoline can be approved for use in an engine or aircraft by Type or Supplemental Type Certificate for individual aircraft and engine types or by Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate providing coverage for a broad range of applicable types of aircraft or engines identified in the application shall continue to be fully available as a means of approving and bringing an unleaded aviation gasoline into general use in the United States. Such approvals shall be issued when the Administrator finds that the aircraft or engine performs properly and meets the applicable regulations and minimum standards under the normal certification process.”