Unleaded Gas Requirements Coming Soon

A big shift is coming to general aviation fuel in the U.S.—and it’s going to shape how community airports like Fort Meade Executive (FME) plan, operate, and invest over the next few years. The FAA has released a draft national transition plan to move away from leaded avgas (100LL) to unleaded alternatives by around 2030, and it has big implications for pilots, airports, and neighbors alike.

Pilot filling up airplane with avgas.

What’s happening with avgas?

The FAA’s Draft Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline lays out how the country could safely phase out 100LL, the last widely used leaded transportation fuel in the U.S. The goal: eliminate lead emissions from piston aircraft without disrupting flight operations or stranding aircraft that still need high-octane fuel.

Instead of picking one “winner” fuel, the FAA proposes a phased, market-driven framework that lets approved unleaded avgas options gain traction as they’re certified and ready for broad use. The plan is currently in draft form and out for public comment, which means operators, airports, and communities can weigh in on the details before anything becomes final.

The Four-phase Transition

The FAA’s draft plan uses a four-phase approach to get from today’s 100LL world to an unleaded future.

• Phase 1 focuses on getting unleaded fuels approved, gathering data, and making sure they work safely across the diverse piston fleet.

• Phase 2 supports early adopters—airports and operators that start offering and using unleaded avgas while both fuel types exist in parallel.

• Phase 3 is the nationwide transition, where 100LL is phased out at most airports and replaced by a compatible unleaded avgas.

• Phase 4 is the end state: a fully unleaded avgas system, with leaded fuel gone except for limited exceptions like extended timelines in Alaska.

For many smaller or space-constrained airports, the FAA explicitly notes they shouldn’t be forced to add extra tanks just to carry multiple grades during the transition. In practice, that means a lot of fields will likely stay with 100LL, then switch their one avgas tank over to an unleaded replacement once it’s proven and available.

What this means for airports like FME

Community and reliever airports are on the front lines of this shift. The FAA acknowledges that fuel suppliers, FBOs, and airports will have to coordinate carefully so the mix of aircraft on the field can safely use whatever ends up in the tank. For a busy reliever with training, business traffic, and based aircraft, that planning matters.

The plan makes it clear that local infrastructure reality will shape how each airport transitions—things like number of tanks, ramp space, and existing fueling layouts. At single-tank airports, that encourages a “flip the switch” approach once a broadly compatible unleaded fuel is ready, instead of juggling multiple grades for years.

From a community perspective, removing lead emissions around airports has been an environmental and public-health priority, especially in populated regions. The draft plan responds directly to congressional direction to cut lead while maintaining safety and access.

How pilots and operators can get ready

Even though this is still a draft, there are practical moves pilots and operators can start thinking about now. The FAA emphasizes that the transition will succeed only if aircraft owners, airports, fuel producers, and regulators stay in sync.

• Know your engine and fuel needs: Understand which approved unleaded fuels (present or future) your aircraft can use, and track STCs and approvals.

• Stay plugged into airport plans: As airports evaluate timelines and infrastructure options, based tenants who participate early will be better positioned when switches happen.

• Watch the policy calendar: The plan is still being refined through public comments and regulatory processes, so details on dates and implementation could evolve.

For a corridor-focused airport in a dense, growing region, the move to unleaded avgas is about more than compliance—it’s about long-term alignment with neighbors, environmental expectations, and the next generation of pilots learning to fly there.