Flight School Pumps 100R Unleaded Avgas
A California flight school has started fueling its Cessna 172 fleet with Swift Fuels’ 100R aviation gasoline, laying claim to being the first training center to use the new 100-octane unleaded avgas. San Carlos Flight Center said it started using 100R for its fleet of 12 Cessna 172 Skyhawks on Nov. 6. The fuel was delivered by truck to the school’s facility at San Carlos Airport (SQL), 20 mi. south of San Francisco, a day earlier. It has been stored in two tanks on the training center’s ramp and made available exclusively for self-service fueling of the 172s. “We are thrilled to adopt 100R fuel for our fleet,” said San Carlos Flight Center owner Alessandro Franco. “Not only does it align with our commitment to sustainability, but it also enhances aircraft performance and extends engine life—benefits that directly impact our pilots and maintenance team.” Franco said Rabbit Aviation Services CEO Dan DeMeo and San Carlos Airport Manager Gretchen Kelly helped with the transition to 100R. The FAA said in September that it had approved the use of 100R by supplemental type certificate (STC) in Cessna 172R/S Skyhawks powered by Lycoming IO-360-L2A engines. The limited certification followed the agency’s broad-based STC approval of GAMI G100UL 100-octane unleaded avgas for all spark-ignition piston aircraft engines in September 2022. The government of Santa Clara County, California, announced on Oct. 29 that it had signed a contract with jet fuel producer Vitol to supply G100UL at Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV) in San Jose, making RHV the first U.S. airport to use the GAMI product. San Carlos Flight Center also operates three Cessna 152s, three Cessna 182s, a Cessna 206, a Diamond DA40 NG, two Piper Archers, and one Piper Dakota. “With time and further certification, we hope to transition the rest of our fleet over to 100R as well,” said Media Specialist Brayden Snedigar.
Bill covers business aviation and advanced air mobility for Aviation Week Network. A former newspaper reporter, he has also covered the airline industry, military aviation, commercial space and uncrewed aircraft systems. He is the author of 'Enter The Drones, The FAA and UAVs in America,' published in 2016.
