Last week, the EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) Initiative announced that NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna will serve as co-chair, alongside the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Executive Director of Aircraft Certification Services (AIR-1) Lirio Liu.
Castagna is the second industry co-chair of the EAGLE Initiative–a collaborative effort between industry stakeholders and the FAA to advance the removal of lead from avgas by 2030 or sooner. Castagna follows AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker who served in the co-chair role since the program’s inception in February 2022. The announcement followed an EAGLE-sponsored briefing to educate audiences on the EPA Endangerment Finding, increasing understanding of the scope of its impact on general aviation.
“NATA and its members continue to prioritize a safe and efficient transition to unleaded aviation fuel, and I am humbled to work with the FAA and our industry partners in my new role as we progress towards the eventual distribution of new fuels to airports and FBOs,” stated Castagna. “At this crucial juncture in the future of the general aviation industry, we appreciate and are most grateful for Mark Baker’s work as co-chair, his leadership on behalf of his members and the industry, and his efforts to spread awareness of EAGLE and its mission.”