Swift Fuel rolls out 94 Octane Aviation Fuel

[dstclair]

Doesn't solve the 100LL issue but certainly provides a fuel for most light sports. STCs in process for what I assume are those engines that already have STCs for mogas. Would really like to see this at my local airport so I don't have to cart 93 octane mogas (with ethanol) in 5 gallon containers. I'm sure it will be pricier than mogas but I'd prefer ethanol-free unleaded fuel.

http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-ai ... nture-2015

[HAPPYDAN]

Good news for the light sport crowd. But do they know that one of their biggest markets could be motorcycle riders. The big twins really HATE ethanol!

[Jack Tyler]

Actually, SwiftFuel offers STC's thru Peterson for a lengthy list of Lycoming & Continental powered aircraft. What's not clear - based on what I've read so far - is whether it requires a fresh $540 STC vs. an aircraft that already has the STC being eligible to use this second fuel legally. Perhaps the bigger news is the agreement SwiftFuel says it has reached with AvFuel, perhaps 'the' aviation fuel distributor. Most airports are prevented from offering Mogas, at least in part, by distribution contacts they must sign which prohibit selling Mogas on the field.

For more about this (and when the link works again), you can read AVweb's short article on SwiftFuel's announcement:
http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AirV ... 542-1.html

But here's a dab of reality: Their new 94 octane fuel has only been introduced at 3 mid-Western airfields so far.

[designrs]

Most airports are prevented from offering Mogas, at least in part, by distribution contacts they must sign which prohibit selling Mogas on the field.

So there you have it. The environmentally responsible, more economical fuel that many pilots would be happy to use (certain motors, blended mixes, STC, etc.) is already available and blocked by distribution greed. This is obscene! Environmentalists, AOPA, and the aviation community should be all over this... aggressively, visibly and pro-actively.

There should be MOGAS on every field for anyone who can use it.

[Jack Tyler]

Well, not so fast. Distribution exclusivity is a common commercial practice everywhere and in many forms. And remember that airports agree to those terms for some of their own reasons. E.g. if an airport puts mogas on the field, there is no insurance protection such as is offered with aviation fuels, including the new 94 octane fuel announced by SwiftFuel. So how does the airport protect itself from a ruined engine or a fatal accident claimed to be caused by the fuel? For that matter, where and how do they source the mogas to protect themselves? And will all the aircraft engines on the field run with all the seasonal blends? And how does the airport operator & FBO know with certainty how much more will we willingly pay - in tenant fees as well as fuel cost - for the installation of additional tanks, card readers and pumps? There are a very few public airports that offer mogas today (http://www.flyunleaded.com/mapusairports.html) so obviously there are A's to Q's like those. But that doesn't mean the owners & operators of all 5,000+ public airports in the U.S. would find those A's suitable & acceptable.

[roger lee]

I can't wait to see the price. It maybe move over 100LL in price. Anyone have any idea on prices?

[dstclair]

The article said the average price of the 3 FBOs offering Swift Fuel 94 was a bit over $4 or around a buck less than 100LL.

[Jack Tyler]

The price is set by the retailer (FBO) so there are lots of local factors that will shape its price at a given airport. Just as we see lots of price variability at public airports in the same local or regional area today for 100LL.

[3Dreaming]

The price is set by the retailer (FBO) so there are lots of local factors that will shape its price at a given airport. Just as we see lots of price variability at public airports in the same local or regional area today for 100LL.

Transportation cost to get the fuel delivered is a big factor. Most tankers will haul 8,000 gallons of 100LL. If you only take half a load then your transportation cost per gallon just doubled, unless they can fin someone else to share the load. If you only take 2,000 gallons, well you get the idea.
The other thing is flowage fees. Many airport have a flowage fee to help pay for and maintain their fuel system. This money is charged by the FBO and goes to the governing body at the airport.

[MrMorden]

The article said the average price of the 3 FBOs offering Swift Fuel 94 was a bit over $4 or around a buck less than 100LL.

Ooh, I love it when you talk cheap fuel to me!

[roger lee]

I'm at $2.65 for 91 oct. right now.
$2.45 for 87 oct.


Even at $4.00 for swift fuel that wouldn't be a good swap for me. It's a good swap for the 100LL guys, but not as good for the already 91 Oct. users.

[dstclair]

I'd gladly pay around a $1.25 (my local delta for 93 octane ethanol and potential Swift Fuel price) to remove the ethanol from my fuel and for the convenience of refueling without carting fuel containers.

[MrMorden]

I'd gladly pay around a $1.25 (my local delta for 93 octane ethanol and potential Swift Fuel price) to remove the ethanol from my fuel and for the convenience of refueling without carting fuel containers.

Same here.

[Jack Tyler]

Lots of variables for sure. If you tend to mix your flying between in/out local flights and longer and/or overnight flights, your local gas station's E0 fuel price most likely gets replaced by the 100LL price when you land & refuel. For me that would mean halving any potential cost savings if using mogas. And if you need to set yourself up to self-fuel using mogas, the cost of doing so comes off the top before seeing any fuel savings. Now add on the inconvenience factor mentioned by dstclair. When I used mogas for 5 years, I found after each longer flight I would have to make multiple runs to the airport to top up the tanks since the boat fuel tank I used only held 12 gallons. (This was with a Grumman Traveler so you LSA folks might face this consequence must less often if you had such a tank. OTOH if you are using 2 x 5 gal. jugs, you might find multiple trips necessary some of the time). As many of us have mentioned before, there are lots of personal circumstances which influence the financial viability of self-fueling.