Bringing Unleaded Aviation Fuel to Hillsboro Airport
The transition from leaded aviation fuel (commonly referred to as AvGas) to lead-free fuel presents an opportunity for the general aviation industry to reduce emissions and improve air quality. It’s a transition that the Port of Portland fully supports and advocates for as a partner in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative. The work is underway, but making the switch requires changes to both federal regulation and supply chain infrastructure—and those changes take time.
Our project team has been working diligently to develop a transition strategy, which was initially expected to be available for public review in early spring. At this time, we are still reviewing data to ensure the final plan reflects stakeholder input and the best available information both locally and nationally. We remain committed to this transition and will continue refining the plan in the coming months. A draft will be published for public review before the final plan is completed this summer. In the meantime, community members are encouraged to submit questions via email at unleadedavgas@portofportland.com and check this webpage for future updates. Thank you for your engagement and support as we work toward a more sustainable future.
Unleaded AvGas Community Roundtable Series
All interested community members were invited to engage in a roundtable series that ran throughout 2024. We were especially interested in hearing from community members that live, work, play and/or pray near the Hillsboro airport, aviation professionals, public health professionals, environmental and air quality advocates and/or people with lived experience navigating the health impacts of leaded aviation fuel.
- Facilitate open and informed discussions about the challenges, opportunities, and implications associated with the use of leaded fuel in general aviation aircraft and its impact on our communities and vulnerable populations including BIPOC, youth, elders, people living with disabilities and low-income communities.
- Serve as a platform to educate participants on the complexities of leaded-fuel usage in general aviation aircraft, as well as the available alternatives and their feasibility.
- Strive to identify feasible strategies, policies, and collaborations that can contribute to the phase-out of leaded aviation fuel and promote cleaner alternatives in aviation statewide.
These discussions aimed to go beyond the challenges and threats of continued use of leaded aviation fuel and focus on partnering to drive actionable change across the state.
More Information
Questions or concerns can be directed to unleadedavgas@portofportland.com.