Signature Flight Support/Aeroplex Aviation providing infrastructure to deliver environmentally responsible fuel option for pilots
(Long Beach, Calif.) — Signature Flight Support @ Aeroplex Aviation is celebrating the first delivery and usage of Swift UL94 unleaded aviation fuel. Signature is the first provider at Long Beach Airport (LGB) to offer the unleaded fuel, making LGB the fourth airport in the region with environmentally sustainable fuel available for purchase.
“This is an important environmental issue, and I am proud to see the leadership demonstrated by Signature Flight Support and Aeroplex Aviation in securing a source of unleaded fuel for our general aviation community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson.
A small celebration took place at Signature/Aeroplex with Pacific Air Flight School today, marking the first gallons of unleaded gas pumped into a general aviation aircraft at Long Beach Airport. Santa Monica Airport, Van Nuys and Oxnard Airports are the only other airports in the region currently offering this alternative fuel option.
This action supports a national initiative called EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions), spearheaded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a parallel process underway with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an evolution to eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel by the end of 2030 for all piston-powered aircraft. In late 2022, the Long Beach City Council voted to waive LGB’s fuel deliver fee per gallon for any unleaded aviation fuel delivered to LGB. LGB provided City Council with an update on the status of efforts to transition to unleaded aviation fuel on July 14, 2023.
“I’m excited to see our Airport work proactively with our fuel suppliers and our general aviation users to begin a safe and smooth shift to unleaded fuel, which will benefit of our Long Beach community,” said Long Beach City Councilwoman Megan Kerr.
Signature Flight Support will now be able to offer unleaded aviation fuel to any aircraft owner or operator located at LGB.
“This is a critical step forward on an important issue and I am pleased to see the innovative solutions developed by the fuel suppliers at Long Beach Airport,” said Long Beach City Councilman Daryl Supernaw. Approximately 65 to 70 percent of the – piston-powered aircraft based at LGB are compatible with the current commercially available Swift UL94 unleaded fuel. Sales of unleaded fuel are expected to increase well in advance of the 2030 deadline, and at such time as a universal piston fuel replacement becomes available.
“Our efforts to bring unleaded avgas to Long Beach is part of our Signature Renew commitment to reduce aviation emissions,” said Niall Mulcahy, Area Director for Signature Aviation. “Signature offers SAF, a carbon-reducing jet fuel, at every one of our California airports and we’re thrilled to integrate more environmentally friendly fuel products for all types of aircraft.” The LBAA will coordinate educational sessions for LGB-based pilots in hopes of encouraging more aircraft owners and operators to adopt the new fuel and to educate the users and stakeholders on the national evolution to unleaded aviation gasoline. “The aviation industry is unanimously committed to converting completely to an unleaded aviation fuel for piston aircraft and is now working to implement legislative and regulatory actions that will permit a rational transition to occur, and sooner than 2030” said Curt Castagna, President of the Long Beach Airport Tenant’s Association. “With Signature Flight Support’s investment, this demonstrates another public-private-sector commitment in real environmental sustainability.”
About the Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA)
Founded in 1947, the Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA) represents more than 40,000 employees and 200 diverse businesses at Long Beach Airport. These include two premier fixed-base operators and specialty aviation service companies; Gulfstream Aerospace aircraft service center; and nearly 100 acres of mid-rise business park, hotel, and educational uses. Located in close proximity to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Long Beach Airport is a busy and diverse facility. It currently serves about three million commercial airline passengers annually, offering direct flights throughout the U.S. with domestic and international connections. From community supporters and private aircraft owners to local businesses and major airport operators, our members work collectively to advocate the interests of airport operators and users, achieve balanced economic growth and diversity, preserve aviation jobs and businesses, form community and educational partnerships. For more information, visit www.thelbaa.org
About Swift Fuels
Swift Fuels is a global research and development firm specializing in proprietary high performance aviation fuels and patented process technologies for refineries and midstream gas processing operations. Since 2012, our Avgas division has become a global leader in the advancement of high-performance unleaded aviation gasoline for piston aircraft. This includes the commercial deployment of a premium grade UL94 avgas – a 94+ motor-octane aviation gasoline that meets ASTM International fuel specification D7547 and is FAA-approved for use in 75% of the US piston fleet. Our Avgas team is also focused on efforts to finalize the FAA’s certification of our high-octane fuel called “100R” targeted for use in all piston airplanes currently FAA-approved to utilize 100LL. 100R is a clean-burning 100+ motor-octane unleaded fuel made from > 10% renewable oxygenates that is designed to replace 100LL on a global scale as a full replacement with, no added hardware. Swift Fuels looks forward to the day when toxic tetraethyllead in 100LL has been permanently removed from fueling piston-engine aircraft through the roll-out of our high-performance unleaded aviation gasoline. For more information about our unleaded avgas programs, visit: www.SwiftFuelsAvgas.com To learn more about our process research visit: www.SwiftFuels.com
About Signature Aviation
Signature Aviation is one of the world’s preeminent global aviation companies, offering exceptional experiences and essential support services to business and private aviation customers. The company’s large-scale infrastructure footprint enables travel and is a critical global economic driver. Signature operates an industry-leading network of private aviation terminals, with over 200 locations covering key destinations in 27 countries across five continents. The United States is the company’s largest market with operations at 38 of the top 50 busiest airports. The company also offers over 14 million square feet of multi-use office and hangar real estate, providing unique network-wide benefits and advantages to customers who base their aircraft at a Signature location. For more information, please visit www.signatureaviation.com.
