Long Beach Airport recently reached an important milestone in its push to support environmentally safer aviation practices: More than 3,000 gallons of unleaded aviation fuel have now been sold through LGB’s Subsidized Aviation Fuel for the Environment program.

SAFE, which launched in 2024, incentivizes general aviation pilots to move away from traditional leaded fuel. By subsidizing the cost difference between unleaded and leaded fuel, SAFE makes the cleaner option financially accessible for more users.

The Federal Aviation Administration has set a target for the elimination of leaded aviation fuel for all piston-powered aircraft by the year 2030. SAFE is an effort to speed up the transition at the local level.

The program is one of the first of its kind in the country.

Of the $200,000 in Airport funds initially set aside for the initiative, about $13,000 had been used by general aviation pilots as of March 2025 to cover the cost gap for 3,359 gallons of unleaded fuel sold. Unleaded fuel is available at LGB through Signature Aviation @ Aeroplex, a fixed-base operator and fuel provider.

With the cost of unleaded aviation fuel typically being about $4 more per gallon than conventional 100-grade low lead fuel, incentives such as SAFE are helping bridge the gap as the market adjusts.

Airport officials anticipate that, over time, the growing demand for unleaded fuel will drive down prices, making cleaner options more widely accessible.

The program is part of a broader strategy by the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Airport to reward the early transition toward greener fuel options. In 2022, the City Council approved a waiver of the fuel flowage fee for unleaded aviation fuel. The following year, a Supplemental Type Certificate reimbursement program was introduced, offering financial support for aircraft owners who complete the necessary certification process to operate on unleaded fuel.

Although the City of Long Beach holds no regulatory authority over aircraft fuels or emissions—a responsibility managed at the federal level—such an innovative local program is contributing to broader industry efforts.

For more information about Long Beach Airport’s sustainability programs, visit www.lgb.org/green.