SWFL airport one of first in Florida to pump environmentally friendly fuel

The Naples airport, which services mostly charter and other private air flights and services, recently hit a milestone in debuting what it calls an environmentally cleaner alternative to traditional aviation gasoline. 

The airport recently began to offer 94 octane unleaded fuel, known as UL 94, in a program subsidized by the Naples Airport Authority, according to a statement. The Naples Airport is now one of three public airports in Florida and 35 in the United States (among more than 5,000) to offer UL 94, the release adds. The other airports in Florida to offer UL 94 fuel are in Sebring and DeLand. 

“Offering UL 94 is a significant step,” NAA Executive Director Chris Rozansky says in the statement. “We are striving to be at the forefront of making aviation more sustainable while still ensuring the safe operation of all aircraft that use the Naples Airport.” 

Yet going to a greener fuel, say airport officials, is a also a costly endeavor with one key obstacle. On the financial side, the fuel, says airport spokesman Zac Burch, "costs quite a bit more than traditional fuel." 

The Naples Airport Authority board, at a May 18 meeting, unanimously approved incentives to offset the higher cost of UL 94. Burch says the board did that so that getting UL 94 fuel wasn't just "for show." 

"We knew if it was nearly double the cost of regular fuel, people would never buy it," he says. 

Airport officials, Burch adds, "are willing to accept the losses to offer this fuel alternative."  

In actual dollars, the airport is charging customers the same price for UL 94 has it does for the older fuel 100LL. The price difference is $4.66 a gallon: UL 94, says Burch, was going for $9.89 a gallon through June 13, while 100LL was $5.23 a gallon. In addition, the authority will offer eligible aircraft based at Naples a $250 one-time credit to complete the FAA required certification to show the engine is eligible for UL 94. 

The big obstacle, meanwhile, is that the UL 94 fuel is largely ahead of engine technology, given airport officials say “less than half of the light aircraft based at Naples can safely use UL 94.” That’s why traditional aviation gasoline will remain available at the airport, officials say, “since traditional aviation gasoline has been in use in light aircraft with reciprocating engines for decades in order to prevent engine failure while in flight.”

The long-range goal, according to the statement, is to eliminate all leaded avgas by 2030 nationwide — something fueling and aviation industries are working on together through the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions Initiative. 

The first aircraft fueled up with UL 94 at the Naples Airport on June 9. “I am so excited about the Naples Airport Authority’s commitment to general aviation and the environment by now offering UL94 as a fuel option,” aircraft owner and Naples resident Linda Sollars says in the statement. “My engine actually prefers this from a maintenance point of view; I am exceptionally grateful for the ability to purchase unleaded fuel here in Naples.” 

The airport, officials say, is taking other steps to reduce its environmental impact, including replacing golf carts, aircraft tugs, ground power units and pickup trucks with zero-emissions electric equipment and vehicles. Several solar projects and an updated stormwater master drainage plan are also in the works.

Naples Airport, a few minutes outside downtown Naples, serviced 122,281 operations in the last fiscal year. Corporate aviation, air charter operators, car rental agencies, flight schools and non-aviation businesses all work out of the airport. All funds used for the airport’s operation, maintenance and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or federal and state grants from aviation-related user fees. The airport receives no local tax dollars.

"I commend our staff on proactively implementing a plan to safely offer UL 94 in less than four months from the time the board first raised the question," Naples Airport Authority  Board Chair Kerry Dustin says in the statement.