Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA) Celebrates First Use of Unleaded Fuel at Long Beach Airport
Signature Flight Support @ Aeroplex Aviation is celebrating the first delivery and usage of Swift UL94 unleaded aviation fuel. Signature is the first provider at Long Beach Airport (LGB) to offer the unleaded fuel, making LGB the fourth airport in the region with environmentally sustainable fuel available for purchase.
“This is an important environmental issue, and I am proud to see the leadership demonstrated by Signature Flight Support and Aeroplex Aviation in securing a source of unleaded fuel for our general aviation community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson.
A small celebration took place at Signature/Aeroplex with Pacific Air Flight School on Aug. 7, marking the first gallons of unleaded gas pumped into a general aviation aircraft at Long Beach Airport. Santa Monica Airport, Van Nuys and Oxnard Airports are the only other airports in the region currently offering this alternative fuel option.
This action supports a national initiative called EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions), spearheaded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a parallel process underway with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an evolution to eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel by the end of 2030 for all piston-powered aircraft. In late 2022, the Long Beach City Council voted to waive LGB’s fuel deliver fee per gallon for any unleaded aviation fuel delivered to LGB. LGB provided City Council with an update on the status of efforts to transition to unleaded aviation fuel on July 14, 2023.
“I’m excited to see our airport work proactively with our fuel suppliers and our general aviation users to begin a safe and smooth shift to unleaded fuel, which will benefit of our Long Beach community," said Long Beach City Councilwoman Megan Kerr.
Signature Flight Support will now be able to offer unleaded aviation fuel to any aircraft owner or operator located at LGB.
“This is a critical step forward on an important issue and I am pleased to see the innovative solutions developed by the fuel suppliers at Long Beach Airport,” said Long Beach City Councilman Daryl Supernaw.
Approximately 65 to 70 percent of the - piston-powered aircraft based at LGB are compatible with the current commercially available Swift UL94 unleaded fuel. Sales of unleaded fuel are expected to increase well in advance of the 2030 deadline, and at such time as a universal piston fuel replacement becomes available.
“Our efforts to bring unleaded avgas to Long Beach is part of our Signature Renew commitment to reduce aviation emissions,” said Niall Mulcahy, Area Director for Signature Aviation. “Signature offers SAF, a carbon-reducing jet fuel, at every one of our California airports and we’re thrilled to integrate more environmentally friendly fuel products for all types of aircraft.”
The LBAA will coordinate educational sessions for LGB-based pilots in hopes of encouraging more aircraft owners and operators to adopt the new fuel and to educate the users and stakeholders on the national evolution to unleaded aviation gasoline.
“The aviation industry is unanimously committed to converting completely to an unleaded aviation fuel for piston aircraft and is now working to implement legislative and regulatory actions that will permit a rational transition to occur, and sooner than 2030” said Curt Castagna, President of the Long Beach Airport Tenant’s Association. “With Signature Flight Support’s investment, this demonstrates another public-private-sector commitment in real environmental sustainability."
