Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport begins offering FAA‑approved 94‑octane unleaded aviation fuel; state subsidy supports transition
February 23, 2026 | Transportation Commission, Governor's Boards and Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Colorado
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Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado, announced that it is now offering SWIFT UL94 unleaded aviation gasoline, making it the second airport in the state to provide the FAA‑approved unleaded option.
Speaker 1 (Unidentified speaker) said, “This FAA approved fuel contains 0 lead and is compatible with about 2 thirds of the piston engine aircraft currently operating at the airport.” The airport framed the change as a step to reduce lead emissions while maintaining pilot safety and reliability.
Speaker 3 (Unidentified speaker) added, “It's FAA approved, contains no lead. It's compatible with over a 130,000 aircraft of the general fleet of aviation operating today when it comes to piston aircraft,” and said the industry is moving toward higher‑octane unleaded fuels that will work in more aircraft.
Officials said the rollout was enabled by a partnership among the Federal Aviation Administration, the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, with project funding and infrastructure support. Speaker 1 said the unleaded product at Rocky Mountain Metro is being offered through ShellTair Aviation, which manages purchasing and delivery of SWIFT UL94.
The airport and Centennial Airport have implemented a fuel subsidy to ease the price difference while pilots transition. Speaker 2 stated, “So we're getting about $300,000 a year from CDOT to pay for that difference in the cost of fuel.” Speaker 3 said the Division of Aeronautics used authority from a House bill referenced in the transcript to provide infrastructure grants and transitional subsidy grants to accelerate adoption.
Centennial Airport began offering 94‑octane unleaded fuel in May 2023, officials said, and Rocky Mountain Metro’s announcement follows that earlier adoption. Officials also said a higher‑octane unleaded fuel is nearing industry approval and could expand compatibility beyond the aircraft that can use UL94 today.
For more information about Colorado’s transition to unleaded aviation fuels and airport fuel transition plans, the announcement directed listeners to the Colorado Division of Aeronautics website at colorado‑aeronautics.org.
Speaker 1 (Unidentified speaker) said, “This FAA approved fuel contains 0 lead and is compatible with about 2 thirds of the piston engine aircraft currently operating at the airport.” The airport framed the change as a step to reduce lead emissions while maintaining pilot safety and reliability.
Speaker 3 (Unidentified speaker) added, “It's FAA approved, contains no lead. It's compatible with over a 130,000 aircraft of the general fleet of aviation operating today when it comes to piston aircraft,” and said the industry is moving toward higher‑octane unleaded fuels that will work in more aircraft.
Officials said the rollout was enabled by a partnership among the Federal Aviation Administration, the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, with project funding and infrastructure support. Speaker 1 said the unleaded product at Rocky Mountain Metro is being offered through ShellTair Aviation, which manages purchasing and delivery of SWIFT UL94.
The airport and Centennial Airport have implemented a fuel subsidy to ease the price difference while pilots transition. Speaker 2 stated, “So we're getting about $300,000 a year from CDOT to pay for that difference in the cost of fuel.” Speaker 3 said the Division of Aeronautics used authority from a House bill referenced in the transcript to provide infrastructure grants and transitional subsidy grants to accelerate adoption.
Centennial Airport began offering 94‑octane unleaded fuel in May 2023, officials said, and Rocky Mountain Metro’s announcement follows that earlier adoption. Officials also said a higher‑octane unleaded fuel is nearing industry approval and could expand compatibility beyond the aircraft that can use UL94 today.
For more information about Colorado’s transition to unleaded aviation fuels and airport fuel transition plans, the announcement directed listeners to the Colorado Division of Aeronautics website at colorado‑aeronautics.org.
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