California moves to ban leaded aviation fuel by 2031

In a recent government meeting, discussions centered around Senate Bill 1193, which aims to ban the sale of leaded aviation fuel in California starting January 1, 2031. The bill, presented by Senator Mengevar, has garnered significant support from various environmental organizations and local government representatives, citing public health concerns linked to lead emissions from aviation gasoline.

Jarrett Yan, a deputy county counsel from Santa Clara County, highlighted findings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that indicated lead emissions from aviation fuel pose a danger to public health, particularly affecting children in surrounding neighborhoods. He noted that since January 2022, Santa Clara County has successfully operated its airports without leaded avgas, selling hundreds of thousands of gallons of unleaded alternatives and preventing over a ton of lead from entering the environment.

Supporters of the bill, including representatives from the Coalition of Clean Air and the California League of United Latin American Citizens, emphasized the availability of unleaded fuel alternatives that are approved for use in nearly all general aviation aircraft. They expressed confidence that suppliers could meet the state's demand well before the 2031 deadline.

However, the bill faced opposition from some members of the committee, particularly from private pilots who raised concerns about the feasibility of using unleaded fuel in certain aircraft, specifically fuel-injected models. One committee member, a private pilot himself, argued that the proposed ban could force many pilots to leave California, potentially impacting the state's economy significantly.

Despite the mixed reactions, the bill was moved to the suspense file for further consideration. The discussions reflect ongoing tensions between environmental health initiatives and the interests of the aviation community in California.