Photo above – Mike Fronapfel, Executive Director of Centennial Airport, announces that the airport is the first in Colorado to have UL94 unleaded aviation gasoline.
With the first drop going into a 2022 Piper Archer owned by Aspen Flying Club, Centennial Airport celebrated becoming the first airport in the state of Colorado to offer unleaded aviation gas as jetCenters of Colorado began offering Swift 94UL Unleaded Avgas to its customers.
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“Today, Centennial Airport is proud to announce that we are the first airport in Colorado to have UL94 unleaded aviation gasoline,” said Centennial Airport Executive Director/BEO Mike Fronapfel. “This milestone couldn’t have been possible without the partnership of our largest fixed base operator, jetCenters of Colorado, our three biggest flight schools, Aspen Flying Club, Flights Inc. and ATP, and feedback from the surrounding communities.”
The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority Board of Commissioners cleared the way to bring the fuel to the airport by voting unanimously to incentive the adoption of an FAA-approved alternative unleaded fuel on March 16. The airport agreed to reimburse aircraft owners up to $110 per aircraft based at Centennial Airport to secure a supplemental type certificate that allows use of the unleaded avgas in the airplane. In addition, the airport agreed to work with any fixed based operator at the airport to cover the difference in cost between 100LL avgas and unleaded avgas.
“jetCenters of Colorado has been working with Centennial Airport and Avfuel over the last several months to support the Airport’s effort in providing unleaded aviation fuel for its stakeholders, resulting in a positive impact to the surrounding communities,” said Tony Buckley, president and CEO of jetCenters of Colorado.
With the initial goal to have the fuel available at the airport by summer, jetCenters of Colorado worked quickly to secure Swift 94UL Unleaded Avgas and made the decision to dedicate a tank to the new product, vastly lowering the cost per gallon.
The move comes upon the FAA-lead Eliminate Aviation Gas Lead Emissions (EAGLE) program having a goal of 2030 for a nationwide transition from 100LL to unleaded fuels. With the support of the community both on and off the airport, Centennial Airport made the decision to help lead this change much sooner.
“I am proud of how quickly Centennial Airport management, the ACPAA board, and airport partners responded to our communities’ concerns regarding the use of leaded fuel in propeller-driven aircraft,” said ACPAA board chair Thad Bagnoto. “We are proud to be the first airport in Colorado, and one of the first in the nation, to offer unleaded aviation gas.”
To date, nearly 20-percent of eligible aircraft and 80-percent of flight school aircraft at Centennial Airport have secured the supplemental type certificates to use the UL94 unleaded avgas.
As research continues nationwide to identify and develop an unleaded aviation gas that is suitable for all aircraft, Centennial Airport remains committed to working with fuel suppliers and aircraft owners to make this transition as seamless and effective as possible.
