In its latest move to accelerate the transition of aviation fuel at Long Beach airport in California from leaded to unleaded, the City Council has unanimously approved to implement a new subsidy programme to offset unleaded fuel costs for general aviation users. The programme will not apply to commercial and business jets that already use unleaded fuel.

"By subsidising the transition to unleaded fuel, Long Beach airport is leading the way on this pressing national issue," says mayor Rex Richardson. "We began down this path in October 2022 and we are proud to take this next step. We know this environmental issue is of great concern to our community, and we're proud to play a leading role in enacting change in the aviation industry."

Long Beach is one of only a handful of airports in the nation to offer a financial subsidy to encourage the purchase of unleaded aviation fuel. The FAA has set a target for the elimination of leaded aviation fuel for all piston-powered aircraft by 2030. In an effort to speed up the transition at the local level, this unleaded aviation fuel subsidy programme is designed to eliminate the cost differential between leaded avgas and unleaded avgas.

Unleaded 94-grade fuel (UL94) has been available at Long Beach airport since August 2023 through Signature Aviation @ Aeroplex. The sale price of UL94 for consumers can be $2 to $4 more per gallon than leaded 100-grade fuel (100LL) varieties, but the unleaded aviation fuel subsidy programme will allow fuel providers to sell unleaded varieties at the same price as 100LL. It is envisioned that the cost of unleaded avgas will decrease over time as demand increases, and that the aviation fuel subsidy programme will encourage this process.

Airport staff will begin working with fuel providers to implement the programme, with $200,000 in reimbursements available for fuel expenses, covered by airport revenue.

"We appreciate City Council's support in taking local actions to reduce lead emissions far in advance of the goal set by the federal government," says airport director Cynthia Guidry. "We are actively listening to our community and committed to being an environmental leader."

This follows a series of actions taken by the City Council and Long Beach airport to facilitate the move towards unleaded avgas, among them the waiving of fuel flowage fees for unleaded avgas in December 2022 and the first delivery of unleaded avgas in August 2023. In November 2023, the City Council approved a supplemental type certificate fee reimbursement programme which took effect this month and provides up to $300 for aircraft owners to obtain required approval from the FAA before their aircraft can use unleaded fuel.