CASA Avgas warning- R22/R44 Operators

[Twistgrip]

Just saw this live on the news. The report went onto say one possible reason for the reduction of lead content was to curb petrol sniffing.
One could presume its across the board with all pistons?.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-08/helicopter-engine-failure-avgas-risks-casa-warning/10083928

[zzodr]

Geez.. as if mustering crews didn't have enough to worry about.

[NZHelo]

Geez.. as if mustering crews didn't have enough to worry about.

Care to elaborate

[Jampot]

Does anyone know if the fuel supplied to the north of Australia is different to that supplied to the south?
Surely a Government department can't get the fuel specifications changed without agreement from the engine and/or aircraft manufactures, and notifying all operators and registration holders. Can they?

[avlis90]

Lead content has nothing to do with the effectiveness of sniffing as far as I know. Unleaded petrol is the most commonly used for sniffing, so reducing lead content is pointless. Opal fuel is used at service stations as a substitute for regular unleaded petrol in problem areas.

[Eric Hunt]

So the possibility of a few of our less-reflective cousins suffering brain damage from sniffing petrol is worth the risks to more reflective people in aviation, with an engine failing from poor fuel standards?

Tail wags the dog, political correctness going berserk again.

[ChicoCheco]

From pure numbers and costs to welfare system, possibly few fatal crashes use less resources than handful of certainly brain damaged kids/teenagers. If you ever got involved with disability sector, the numbers are staggering.

Hence the cost passed on to nation/migrants in CTP and taxes.
Obviously I do not personally agree with increasing risk to flight crew. Just FYI.