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For the same reason why GA aircraft still fill up on leaded fuel, the FAA doesn't really give a shit and there's no incentive from private companies to make them care.

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We are on leaded fuel precisely because FAA makes it too hard to certify new GA engines. Private companies have every incentive to use better, cheaper and more reliable tech, and consumers want them too. Without FAA, we’d long be flying on automotive diesel engines.

Engines absolutely, but the fuel companies who would be developing alternatives to 100LL definitely do not have an incentive to do so

It does exist, it has been approved by the FAA, and you can go buy the STC right now if you want[0]. The incentive is that 100LL has been banned by at least one county[1] with states[2] trying to follow (although the AOPA successfully neutered that one[3]).

[0] https://www.g100ul.com/ [1] https://www.globalair.com/articles/california-county-that-ba... [2] https://www.flyingmag.com/washington-bill-seeks-statewide-ba... [3] https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/march/16/a...

They don't need to develop an alternative to 100LL. Oil companies make it in such small quantities it's a total pain in the arse to cope with.

If you adapt a car engine (like a VW Beetle or Subaru engine, both flat-fours and common lightweight GA power plants) then it just runs on ordinary 95 octane unleaded, the exact same stuff you put in your car.

I believe two companies have made a 100LL substitute fuel; neither has been approved.

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