UVU Aviation Becomes First in the U.S. to Use Fully Unleaded Fuel

_{By Mike Romero}

Utah Valley University’s (UVU) School of Aviation Sciences is set to become the first collegiate flight training program in the country to transition its entire training fleet to fully unleaded aviation fuel (UL94).

Operating since 1988, UVU’s School of Aviation Sciences has trained and educated numerous FAA certified pilots and aviation industry professionals, boasting a graduate job placement rate exceeding 92%.

In collaboration with Swift Fuels, a fuel research and development company based in Indiana, UVU recently received its initial shipment of UL94, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of unleaded fuel for piston-engine aircraft. While leaded fuel has traditionally been used in these aircraft due to the need for higher-octane fuel, Swift Fuels’ UL94 is a lead-free alternative that has gained approval for use in approximately 70% of existing piston aircraft. Although still in the early stages of adoption, UVU’s fleet of 25 aircraft, comprised of Diamond DA40s and Piper Seminoles, is fully compatible with this new fuel and ready to reap its benefits.

The switch to UL94 brings several advantages to the aviation program. Engines running on this fuel will experience smoother operations and fewer mechanical issues, such as fouled spark plugs. Moreover, mandatory aircraft inspections will require less time and manpower, leading to reduced maintenance costs for UVU. John James, the director of aviation maintenance at UVU, highlighted how the cleaner-burning nature of UL94 benefits engine components, ultimately resulting in enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness in student training.

Beyond the cost advantages, UL94 serves as a more environmentally friendly alternative. It significantly reduces lead exhaust emissions, aligning with UVU’s commitment to sustainability. Nick Marsh, the supervisor of aviation operations at UVU, expressed his enthusiasm for the transition, emphasizing how the use of unleaded fuel would create safer working conditions for fuel-handling employees by eliminating their exposure to leaded fuel.

Curt Castagna, President and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), commended UVU’s decision to adopt UL94 and recognized the university’s leadership in promoting community partnership and environmental progress. As an academic institution and early adopter of UL94, UVU has the opportunity to educate the industry on the use of environmentally friendly aviation fuels while training future pilots.

NATA, the leading national trade association representing general aviation service companies, is part of the industry’s Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, which aims to transition piston-engine aircraft to lead-free aviation fuels by the end of 2030. Castagna’s congratulations further underline the significance of UVU’s move toward UL94.

UVU’s transition to unleaded fuel aligns with its broader sustainability efforts in recent years. These initiatives include reducing campus water usage by 40 million gallons annually, donating excess food from UVU’s GRIT Garden to the CARE Hub campus food pantry, partnering with UTA to offer free public transportation, and constructing a pedestrian bridge across I-15.