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 market program in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing buyers with their sleek shapes, plush cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to display unique forms of aviation fuel considered less damaging to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the definitely less waste.

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

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

The availability of less contaminating private jets could likewise spare the abundant and famous the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner 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 recent waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief business officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer 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 screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions worldwide, but can release, typically, as much as 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 said that on the uncommon events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say events such as the furore over his schedule have added fresh challenges for a market currently aiming to validate its contribution to cutting corporate expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including using personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has actually delivered fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image transformation - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out aircrafts - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts stay skeptical that biojetfuels, usually combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant effect on public perceptions about high-end travel.

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

Demand from company jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

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

Corporate charter companies and experts are likewise seeing more interest from customers who wish to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a role in a corporate jet usage research study his business recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.

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