1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Thomas Elsey edited this page 1 month ago

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas luxury jets are luring purchasers with their sleek silhouettes, plush cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to display unique types of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less attractive meat waste.

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

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make business jets more attractive to environmentally mindful buyers - especially corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green project groups.

The availability of less contaminating personal jets could likewise spare the abundant and well-known the negative publicity 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 utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The newest waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized 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 anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, but can release, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his periodic use of private jets to ensure his household's safety, and has actually stated that on the unusual celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his travel plan have actually included fresh challenges for an industry currently aiming to validate its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

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

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

But even an image transformation - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to airplanes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, generally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial impact on public perceptions about high-end travel.

"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from organization jet operators for sustainable 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 expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and consultants are likewise 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 research study his company just recently completed for a Fortune 500 .

"At the end of the day, I believe that cost, cost per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe individuals are becoming more aware of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)