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. There are certain sections within this guide that do not specify an exact number of data points required. For example, 6.2.4.3 requires viscosity to be measured from freezing point to room temperature; 6.2.4.4, 6.2.4.5, and 6.3.2.3 require measurements over the operating temperature range; 6.3.2.4 and 6.3.2.5 require measurements versus temperature. In these cases, the developers or sponsors of new aviation gasolines or additives should attempt to generate data close to the upper and lower boundaries indicated. If no boundary is specified (for example, generate data versus temperature), then data at the widest practical test limits should be generated. A minimum of three data points is required in all cases (for example, upper, middle, lower), while five or more data points are preferred.

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 in existing or future aircraft and engines, but not necessarily for use in 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 200 000 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.

1.1 This guide provides procedures to develop data for use in research reports for new aviation gasolines or new aviation gasoline additives.

1.2 This data is intended to be used by the ASTM subcommittee to make a determination of the suitability of the fuel for use as an aviation fuel in either a fleet-wide or limited capacity, and to make a determination that the proposed properties and criteria in the associated standard specification provide the necessary controls to ensure this fuel maintains this suitability during high-volume production.

1.3 These research reports are intended to support the development and issuance of new specifications or specification revisions for these products. Guidance to develop ASTM International standard specifications for aviation gasoline is provided in Subcommittee J on Aviation Fuels Operating Procedures, Annex A6, “Guidelines for the Development and Acceptance of a New Aviation Fuel Specification for Spark-Ignition Reciprocating Engines.”

1.4 The procedures, tests, selection of materials, engines, and aircraft detailed in this guide are based on industry expertise to give appropriate data for review. Because of the diversity of aviation hardware and potential variation in fuel/additive formulations, not every aspect may be encompassed and further work may be required. Therefore, additional data beyond that described in this guide may be requested by the ASTM task force, Subcommittee J, or Committee D02 upon review of the specific composition, performance, or other characteristics of the candidate fuel or additive.

1.5 While it is beyond the scope of this guide, investigation of the future health and environmental impacts of the new aviation gasoline or new aviation gasoline additive and the requirements of environmental agencies is recommended.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

1.6.1 Exception—Some industry standard methodologies utilize imperial units as their primary system (permeability; Table A2.1).

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.