[notatoad]

The "separately-funded dual-track" is already there - It's the EPA, or congress. The FAA's mandate is to ensure safe flight. it shouldn't be up to them to be setting environmental rules. Environmental rules should be set for them, and they should figure out how their industry can meet those rules.

The exemption for leaded fuel in GA should have expired a long time ago. It's ridiculous that the FAA was allowed to keep punting this issue essentially forever, and the only reason a transition is happening now is because they finally decided to take responsibility for it, rather than because there was any legal requirement for it.

[AdamJacobMuller]

The FAA would have been totally happen, probably ecstatic, to allow an external mandate from someone like the EPA end leaded avgas while they had no replacement, effectively killing general aviation. They could have pointed fingers at the EPA who would have pointed back at the FAA, meanwhile GA would be dead.

[notatoad]

yeah, that's always the threat - "following basic environmental safety rules will kill ____". but just because you say it, doesn't make it true.

GA flying is important for a lot of industry, and a lot of remote communities. it might have taken some work, but they could have found a way to use unleaded fuel in airplanes in fewer than 50 years.