ASTM D7826 Standard Guide for Evaluation of New Aviation Gasolines and New Aviation Gasoline Additives
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This guide gives sponsors of a new aviation gasoline or aviation gasoline additive guidance on evaluation procedures using both laboratory and aircraft equipment. This guide includes requirements that address the following subjects:
4.1.1 Basic specification properties;
4.1.2 Fit-for-purpose properties, including compatibility with other aviation gasolines and aviation piston-engine lubricants;
4.1.3 Materials compatibility;
4.1.4 Aircraft component bench or rig testing;
4.1.5 Engine test cell evaluation; and
4.1.6 Aircraft flight test evaluation.
4.2 The procedure for new aviation gasolines is organized into Phase 1 and Phase 2. Details of the two phases are described below:
4.2.1 Phase 1 is intended to provide data and information sufficient to provide an initial understanding of the performance and properties of the candidate new aviation gasoline and to help guide the subsequent Phase 2 testing. A preliminary data package produced in accordance with 6.2 of this guide and an associated draft specification should be prepared to support the initial ASTM task force and subcommittee review. The preliminary data package and the draft specification should be submitted for subcommittee review in an initial ballot.
4.2.2 Phase 2 consists of the development of the final data set and the balloting of the ASTM Research Report and proposed specification to the subcommittee and/or committee. Based on feedback from the subcommittee in response to the initial ballot, the preliminary data should be supplemented with data developed in accordance with 6.3 of this guide. The entire data set should then be compiled in an ASTM Research Report and balloted along with the proposed specification to the subcommittee and/or committee.
4.3 The procedure to evaluate new aviation gasolines or aviation gasoline additives is progressive and iterative in nature with the extent of continued testing determined by the fuel properties, characteristics, and test results revealed at each successive stage. The extent of testing can be expected to grow with increasing degree of divergence from the properties, performance, and experience with existing aviation gasolines. This degree of divergence and its consequences are evaluated during the analysis of data provided in the preliminary data package or the research report.
4.4 The procedure for new aviation gasoline additives consists of test specification, Fit For Purpose 1 (FFP-1) and, where appropriate, Fit for Purpose 2 (FFP-2) testing.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This guide is intended for the developers or sponsors of new aviation gasolines or additives to describe the data requirements necessary to support the development of specifications for these new products by ASTM members. The ultimate goal of the data generated in accordance with this guide is to provide an understanding of the performance of the new fuel or additive within the property constraints and compositional bounds of the proposed specification criteria.
5.2 This guide is not an approval process. It is intended to describe test and analysis requirements necessary to generate data to support specification development. This guide does not address the approval process for ASTM International standards.
5.3 This guide will reduce the uncertainty and risk to developers or sponsors of new aviation gasolines or additives by describing the test and analysis requirements necessary to proceed with the development of an ASTM International specification for aviation gasoline or specification revision for an aviation gasoline additive.
5.4 This guide does not purport to specify an all-inclusive listing of test and analysis requirements to achieve ASTM International approval of a specification or specification revision. The final requirements will be dependent upon the specific formulation and performance of the candidate fuel and be determined by the ASTM International task forces and committees charged with overseeing the specification development.
5.5 This guide is intended to describe data to be used to make a determination of the suitability of the proposed fuel or additive for use on existing or future aircraft and engines, but not necessarily for use on all existing or future aircraft and engines.
5.6 This guide does not describe data requirements of other approving authorities, such as national aviation regulatory authorities, or of other organizations or industry associations. However, the data generated in the conduct of the procedure may be useful for other purposes or other organizations.
5.7 Over 200000 piston-engine aircraft rely on Specification D910 lead-containing aviation gasoline (avgas) for safe operation. There has been an increase in the research and development of alternatives to Specification D910 gasolines as a result of environmental and economic concerns.
