Unpaywalled archive link: https://archive.ph/TDGsk Open Access link to the study mentioned: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/puh2.27

Posting because I saw another post on this community about Extinction Rebellion UK blocking a private jet airport today (June 2024) (https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2024/06/02/climate-activists-blockade-farnborough-private-jet-airports-three-main-gates/) and wondered how many people know that leaded fuel is still pretty common in planes, both in the UK and elsewhere; I was pretty shocked when I first learned this

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    366 months ago

    Leaded fuel is still used in piston airplanes everywhere. While there are ongoing efforts to develop an unleaded alternative, there is none currently available to the market.

    • @rtxn
      link
      English
      236 months ago

      There are already multiple unleaded aviation fuels in testing, and one (G100UL) commercially available. The main barrier is that the engines, especially larger and older ones, are not designed to run on unleaded fuel, and must be certified.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        76 months ago

        Right, hopefully G100UL can replace 100LL reasonably quickly, but there’s a big difference between “commercially available” and actually available. I imagine it will be quite some time until it’s commonplace for GA aircraft, unfortunately.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          06 months ago

          If they aren’t absolutely essential for some important societal function the aircraft should just be grounded rather than be allowed to fly on leaded. No one’s toy or joy ride should be giving thousands of people lead poisoning

    • @RGB3x3
      link
      English
      36 months ago

      Well it’s about time they get the lead out and get the lead out!

    • VeganPizza69 Ⓥ
      link
      16 months ago

      The alternative is to ground them. Into dust (and recycle).