By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market show in Las Vegas luxury jets are luring purchasers with their smooth silhouettes, plush cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to showcase unique kinds of air travel fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and dedicated to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to suppress emissions might make organization jets more attractive to ecologically mindful buyers - particularly corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.
The availability of less contaminating personal jets might likewise spare the abundant and the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a current private jet trip to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The most recent waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
Some of the other 79 aircraft on display screen are expected 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 annual carbon emissions internationally, but can produce, typically, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has defended his occasional use of private jets to guarantee his family's safety, and has actually said that on the unusual celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers state occurrences such as the furore over his schedule have actually added fresh challenges for an industry already striving to justify its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.
"Incidents of flight shaming including using private jets are unfortunate when you consider that our market has actually delivered fuel performance enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to industry data, billionaires just have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.
Environmentalists and some analysts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, generally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant effect on public perceptions 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 company jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far exceeds supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.
World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, might expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter companies and experts are also seeing more interest from consumers who wish to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions contributed in a corporate jet usage study his business recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.
"At the end of the day, I believe that price, expense per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe individuals are becoming 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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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Cliff Cory edited this page 2025-01-14 14:08:47 +08:00