By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market show in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring buyers with their sleek shapes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to display unique forms of aviation fuel deemed less damaging to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed 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 appealing to ecologically conscious buyers - especially corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.
The schedule of less contaminating private jets might also spare the abundant and famous the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a recent private jet journey to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The current waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
Some of the other 79 aircraft on display are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the show.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, but can produce, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.
Prince Harry has defended his periodic usage of personal jets to guarantee his family's safety, and has said that on the unusual occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers say occurrences such as the furore over his travel plan have added fresh obstacles for a market already aiming to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.
"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has actually provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel use will help the market make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to market data, billionaires only have a 19% service jet .
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to planes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.
Environmentalists and some experts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, normally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable impact on public perceptions about luxury travel.
"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make service jets look eco-friendly," stated air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from organization jet operators for sustainable 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, could broaden production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter business and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who want to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a corporate jet utilization research study his company just recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.
"At the end of the day, I think that price, cost per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think people 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)
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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Kim Wells edited this page 2025-01-18 18:43:35 +08:00