Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

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By Allison Lampert By Allison Lampert

By Allison Lampert


LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest market program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring buyers with their smooth shapes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.


Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to showcase novel kinds of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the climate, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.


Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.


Their hope is that adopting sustainable fuel to curb emissions might make company jets more appealing to environmentally mindful buyers - specifically corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors or green project groups.


The accessibility of less polluting personal jets could also spare the rich and famous the negative publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a current personal jet trip to southern France.


Five Gulfstream jets on screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.


The most recent waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief business officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.


"All of our product is inedible."


Some of the other 79 airplane on display screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.


FLIGHT SHAMING


Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions internationally, but can produce, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.


Prince Harry has actually defended his occasional usage of personal jets to guarantee his household's safety, and has actually said that on the uncommon celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.


But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his schedule have actually included fresh challenges for an industry already making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.


"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of personal jets are unfortunate when you consider that our market has actually delivered fuel effectiveness enhancements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.


Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to market data, billionaires just have a 19% company jet ownership rate.


But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.


Environmentalists and some analysts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, generally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial influence on public understandings about luxury travel.


"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," said aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.


Demand from business jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow stated.


World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could broaden production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.


Corporate charter companies and specialists are also seeing more interest from customers who want to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.


Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions played a function in a corporate jet usage study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.


"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, expense per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I believe individuals are ending up being more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)

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