By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to showcase novel kinds of aviation fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airlines, have acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and devoted to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to curb emissions could make business jets more attractive to environmentally conscious purchasers - especially corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.
The availability of less polluting private jets could likewise spare the abundant and famous the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a current personal jet to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on display 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 by-products of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
A few of the other 79 airplane on screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the show.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets account for less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions globally, but can discharge, typically, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.
Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his occasional usage of personal jets to guarantee his family's security, and has said that on the unusual occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers state events such as the furore over his schedule have added fresh challenges for a market currently striving to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has delivered fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to industry data, billionaires just have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.
Environmentalists and some experts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, typically 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," stated air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from company jet operators for renewable fuels now far exceeds 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 approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter companies and specialists are also seeing more interest from consumers who desire to buy carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions played a role in a corporate jet usage research study his company recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.
"At the end of the day, I think that price, expense per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) driver. But I think people are ending up being more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (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
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