By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting buyers with their smooth shapes, plush cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel forms of aviation fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced ecological pressure on air travel and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.
Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions could make organization jets more attractive to ecologically conscious buyers - particularly corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.
The accessibility of less polluting personal jets could also spare the rich and well-known the negative publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a recent personal jet trip to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on display in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The current waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.
"All of our product is inedible."
Some of the other 79 aircraft on screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the program.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions worldwide, but can produce, typically, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has defended his occasional usage of personal jets to ensure his household's safety, and has stated that on the unusual events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers say events such as the furore over his itinerary have actually added fresh difficulties for an industry already aiming to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming including the usage of personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has provided fuel effectiveness enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will help the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry data, billionaires just have a 19% service jet ownership rate.
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding pumps for visiting airplanes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.
Environmentalists and some experts remain doubtful that biojetfuels, typically combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant effect on public understandings about luxury travel.
"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make service jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from company jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow stated.
World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could broaden production approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter business and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from customers who wish to buy carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a function in a corporate jet usage study his company recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.
"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I believe people are becoming more conscious of 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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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Maryjo Schrantz edited this page 2025-01-11 14:34:16 +00:00