Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
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By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest industry show in Las Vegas high-end jets are enticing purchasers with their sleek silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and progressively, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to display unique kinds of aviation fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced ecological pressure on aviation and dedicated to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that embracing sustainable fuel to suppress emissions might make business jets more attractive to environmentally conscious buyers - particularly corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less polluting personal jets could also spare the rich and popular the negative publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.

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

The most current waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions internationally, however can give off, usually, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has protected his periodic usage of private jets to ensure his family's safety, and has said that on the uncommon celebrations he does not he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his itinerary have actually added fresh obstacles for a market currently making every effort to validate its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving using private jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has delivered fuel effectiveness enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the market make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to industry information, billionaires just have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane 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 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public perceptions about high-end travel.

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

Demand from service jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses 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 as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and experts are also seeing more interest from consumers who desire to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

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

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, expense per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think people are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)