Swift Fuels has signed a deal with global aviation fuel wholesaler Avfuel Corporation to distribute its 94 MON unleaded aviation fuel. The company announced the deal Friday during Sun ‘n Fun and says the deal is “a framework agreement to serve as a template allowing equitable distribution processes amongst the major avgas distributors for Swift 94 MON Avgas, and any future avgas replacements.” Avfuel has 600 branded FBOs in the U.S. and distributes to more than 3,000 FBOs worldwide. Swift wants its fuel to have the widest distribution possible to keep prices competitive and ensure fair access to the fuel. “Swift Fuels appreciates the passion, foresight and objectivity of the team at Avfuel to help us craft an equitable process considering the market dynamics of the top North American avgas distributors, thereby allowing our unleaded fuel to be deployed safely, fairly and cost-effectively,” said Chris D’Acosta, CEO of Swift Fuels. “We believe this will help streamline our supply-chain planning and execution leading to the availability of more Swift unleaded avgas to strategic markets in the months ahead.”
For Avfuel’s part, the company said the agreement “ensures the most competitive price and greatest availability, resulting in a positive outcome for the industry,” according to Marci Ammerman, the company’s VP of marketing. The fuel was announced at AirVenture 2015 and it’s a “drop-in” replacement for 100 LL that uses the same base materials as regular avgas. The fuel is already approved by STC for hundreds of engines and airframes. The 94 octane fuel is suitable for more than half the piston aircraft flying and will get some cash flow going for Swift, whose 102 octane fuel for higher performance engines is one of two fuels (Shell makes the other one) to go on to Phase 2 testing of the FAA’s Piston Aircraft Fuel Initiative. That testing won’t be done until 2018.
