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 biggest industry show in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting purchasers with their streamlined shapes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to showcase novel types of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced ecological pressure on air travel and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make organization jets more attractive to environmentally mindful purchasers - particularly corporations facing questions over sustainability from shareholders or green project groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating personal jets might likewise spare the abundant and popular the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half 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 most current waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," 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 product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on display are anticipated 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 total yearly carbon emissions worldwide, however can discharge, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his occasional usage of personal jets to guarantee his household's security, and has actually stated that on the rare celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his travel plan have added fresh challenges for an industry already striving to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has provided fuel performance improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to industry information, billionaires just have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.

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

Environmentalists and some analysts stay skeptical that biojetfuels, normally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant influence on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," stated air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow said.

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

Corporate charter business and consultants are likewise seeing more interest from clients 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 contributed in a corporate jet research study his company recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.

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