By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant industry program in Las Vegas luxury jets are tempting purchasers with their smooth shapes, plush cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to showcase novel forms of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airline companies, have acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and devoted to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to curb emissions might make business jets more appealing to environmentally conscious purchasers - specifically corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.
The accessibility of less polluting private jets might also spare the abundant and famous the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan over a current private jet journey 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 byproducts of the food industry," 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."
Some of the other 79 airplane on screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the program.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, however can give off, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has actually defended his periodic usage of personal jets to guarantee his family's security, and has said that on the rare events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers say occurrences such as the furore over his schedule have actually added fresh difficulties for an industry already striving to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming including the usage of private jets are unfortunate 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 assist the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% service jet ownership rate.
But even an image transformation - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for checking out aircrafts - is unlikely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.
Environmentalists and some experts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public perceptions about high-end travel.
"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make service jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from organization jet operators for renewable 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, could expand production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter companies and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from clients 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 contributed in a corporate jet usage research study his business recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.
"At the end of the day, I believe that price, cost per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I believe individuals are becoming more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it impacts 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
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