The FAA has approved hundreds of additional piston aircraft engine models to burn the 100-octane unleaded avgas developed by General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI) in a move that signals the agency's "bullish" approach to the eventual elimination of leaded aviation fuel. The accelerated commitment reflects new urgency arising from the FAA's awareness that some local governments are taking action to ban leaded avgas from being used at airports in their jurisdictions. Those actions are further pressuring efforts proceeding on multiple fronts to develop unleaded fuel and reduce the lead content of some fuels. Although the approved engines comprise a large percentage of the GA fleet-used mostly in aircraft that can burn lower octane fuels-the remaining 30 percent of engines require 100-octane fuel and account for 80 percent of total avgas utilization.
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