FAA guidance on approval of new aeronautical fuels

The FAA? published a new Advisory Circular? in August 2011 providing guidance for the approval of new aeronautical fuels. The document aims to facilitate the aviation fuel approval process by clarifying and describing acceptable methods of compliance to existing FAA regulations. AC 20-24? is meant to assist with approvals of fuels to replace 100LL? as well as assist in managing the process of approving new fuels that are anticipated to be developed from feedstocks other than oil.

The new AC 20-24 is actually a revision of a previous document, updated to meet the demands of certifying new fuels. The FAA said that the recent increase in new and alternative aviation fuel development efforts necessitated clarification of the FAA approval policy to support these projects for both avgas? and jet fuel?. The FAA points out that the advisory circular does not address how to approve a fuel, but provides guidance on how to approve engines and airplanes when operating on a specified fuel.

The AC doesn't create new rules, but explains to developers of new fuels for the aviation community how the FAA interprets the rules already on the books. The FAA says the aim of the AC is to ensure any fuel that is approved will have been evaluated to the extent necessary to perform in a safe and consistent manner when introduced in service. The FAA has also established the Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee? or UAT ARC? to work with industry to develop a plan to address this issue.

External links

FAA AC 20-24C

PDF of AC 20-24C

Public comments and revisions to AC 20-24C