1 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 program in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing purchasers with their smooth silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and progressively, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to display unique forms of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the environment, from used cooking oil to the clearly less attractive meat waste.

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

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make company jets more attractive to environmentally conscious purchasers - particularly corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The schedule of less polluting private jets could likewise spare the abundant and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan over a recent private jet journey to southern France.

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

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

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display are anticipated 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 give off, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his periodic usage of personal jets to guarantee his family's safety, and has actually said that on the rare celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state incidents such as the furore over his itinerary have actually added fresh obstacles for an industry currently aiming to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has provided fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel use will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to market data, billionaires just have a 19% service 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 going to airplanes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts remain doubtful that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial influence on public perceptions about travel.

"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said air travel analyst Richard Aboulafia.

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

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

Corporate charter business and experts are likewise seeing more interest from clients who desire to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a corporate jet usage research study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I think that price, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are ending up being more aware of the sustainability of operations and how it affects the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)