Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

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 sleek silhouettes, plush cabins – and increasingly, their usage of alternative fuels.

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

Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and dedicated to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make service jets more appealing to ecologically conscious buyers – particularly corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green project groups.

The availability of less contaminating private jets might likewise spare the rich and popular the negative publicity experienced by Harry and his other half Meghan over a recent personal jet journey to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on screen in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The latest waste-based fuels include “fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market,” stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer 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 display screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions globally, but can release, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually safeguarded his occasional use of private jets to ensure his household’s safety, and has actually stated that on the unusual occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

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

“Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are regrettable when you think about that our market has actually provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years,” said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel use will help the industry make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to industry data, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover – with jets sporting stickers like “this aircraft flies on sustainable fuels” and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes – is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet occasion.

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

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

Demand from business jet operators for sustainable 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 broaden production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from customers who wish to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions played a role in a business jet utilization study his company just recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.

“At the end of the day, I think that price, cost per hour, variety, speed and performance, that’s still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe individuals are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the world.” (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)