[nonsense123]

> recertifying every engine that was designed to use leaded gas is a pretty big lift ... instead of a car

Wrong on all accounts. There are orders of magnitude less engine models used in air than cars. Profit margin for airplane companies are higher than cars (though volume is much lower). cars use the same model worldwide and pass certification all at once, planes sell in one country and customers are mostly responsible for 'acclimatization' or whatever they call it in your parts, but it usually is about lights color and placements or some nonsense.

the one thing that made planes be so slow, is that people who own planes have much more voice over legislation than people who own cars. Nothing else. That's why the whole industry used tax payer money to certify one special new gas type that will work on all existing engines (again, possible because much less variety, making it easier technically). You breathed lead for 60 years of legal lethargy just so a few people didn't have to spend a few pennies on their plane maintenance.

[rtkwe]

If a car engine fails or is suffering more long term damage due to knocking the car doesn't have an immediate emergency on the same order of magnitude a plane does. A failed plane engine is an immediate life threatening emergency to everyone on board.

[elzbardico]

Not only on board.

I thanks the FAA and other's countries flight authorities for the fact that I don't need to have an anxiety crisis every time a plane passes overhead.

[lazide]

While there are fewer models, the amount of paperwork per model is orders of magnitude higher. And many of the manufacturers for the most common models no longer exist in the form they were when the engines and planes were originally designed and certified.

Oh, and unlike with a car or truck, engine failure in a light plane, especially during takeoff, is VERY likely to result in death or serious injury.