San Diego is home to the nation’s third busiest public general aviation airport, with more than 370,000 takeoffs and landings each year. Located in Kearny Mesa, the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport has been in operation since 1937 and has provided flight training for Army Air Corps cadets.

As a prominent general aviation airport, Montgomery-Gibbs is now leading the national conversation around aircraft lead emissions. In 2024, the Airport, in partnership with CrownAir Aviation, was the first in the region to offer unleaded fuel for piston aircraft, and airport staff currently work with pilots and flight schools to advocate for the transition to unleaded fuel at airports across the country.

Reducing lead emissions, however, requires a coordinated approach and depends heavily on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to direct the national transition to unleaded fuel.

“Thanks to our proactive work, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport was the first airport in the region and one of the first ones in the U.S. to offer unleaded aviation fuel,” said Jorge Rubio, A.A.E. Economic Development Deputy Director and Chief of Airports. “Doing so demonstrated the Airport’s dedication to reducing lead emissions in San Diego County, and although transitioning from leaded to unleaded fuel has not been an easy task, it’s one that the City remains committed to.”

The FAA has vowed to end the use of lead-based fuel at all airports by Jan. 1, 2031. Until then, the City of San Diego, as the operator of a federally obligated airport, is required to allow its use. Requiring a switch to unleaded fuel before 2031 could jeopardize federal funding designated for airfield safety improvements. Additionally, currently available unleaded fuels are incompatible with some piston aircraft and may pose safety risks.

The City of San Diego has taken proactive steps to accelerate the transition before the FAA’s target of 2031 through educational campaigns about the benefits of unleaded fuels, including increased engine life expectancy. It is also looking to develop incentives to help make its unleaded fuel as cost competitive as possible.

As Chief of Airports, Rubio has been a strong advocate and an influential voice in the national conversation to transition general aviation airports to unleaded fuels.

This includes providing recommendations to the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) Executive Team on their national transition efforts. These recommendations include creating a national education campaign for pilots, providing financial incentives to help aircraft owners obtain the supplemental type certificates needed to use the fuels, expanding fuel distribution and availability nationwide, and establishing a centralized platform where pilots can share and access operational data. He also played a key role in developing two FAA-sponsored guides that help general aviation airports plan and implement the transition to unleaded fuel. Published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, these guides are widely distributed and serve as foundational resources for airports undertaking the transition.

“While reducing lead emissions is an important public health goal shared by the City, it remains primarily a federal matter,” said Rubio. “The FAA will need to certify a universally accepted fuel replacement, resolve supply and infrastructure challenges, educate aircraft owners and ensure that safety remains the top priority throughout the transition process.”

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport has been classified by the FAA as National Asset and a reliever airport for San Diego International Airport, which helps alleviate air traffic congestion and, as a result, passengers benefit from fewer delays.

The Airport also plays a critical role in emergency operations, supporting air ambulance, law enforcement and fire rescue efforts, along with education and training for those who want to become commercial airline pilots, mechanics and airport professionals. In doing so, it helps protect communities, supports lifesaving missions and prepares the next generation of aviation professionals who keep people and goods moving safely.

The Airport supports about 1,400 local jobs and generates approximately $180 million in economic activity annually.