Five Colorado airports were required to submit transition plans to phase out leaded fuel by 2030 and Boulder Municipal Airport states that unleaded retail aviation fuel is expected to be available by the end of 2026. The Longmont Vance Brand Airport plan states there are currently three potential options for unleaded aviation fuel with Swift Fuels 100R being one option that is expected to be commercially available as soon as this year or possibly next year.
The community airports are currently utilizing low-lead 100 aviation fuel for piston-engine aircrafts, while all commercial airplanes have been using unleaded kerosene-based fuels for more than half a century. The CDC states that lead poisoning in children can cause brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth and slowed development. It can also lead to learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems. The downstream effects of these issues can result in lower IQ, problems paying attention, and underperformance in school.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says children who live near airports can be exposed to lead in the air and soil from leaded aviation fuel. CDPHE says lead poisoning is preventable through testing and early detection…