By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market show in Las Vegas high-end jets are tempting buyers with their sleek shapes, plush cabins - and progressively, their use of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to display unique forms of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the noticeably less attractive meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airlines, have acquiesced ecological pressure on air travel and committed to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.
Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to curb emissions might make company 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 personal jets could likewise spare the rich and popular the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current private jet trip to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on display in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The most recent waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
A few of the other 79 airplane on display are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the show.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions internationally, however can give off, typically, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has defended his occasional usage of personal jets to ensure his family's security, and has actually stated that on the uncommon celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers say events such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh obstacles for a market currently making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.
"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of personal jets are regrettable when you consider that our industry has actually provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said President David Coleal.
Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry information, billionaires only have a 19% service jet ownership rate.
But even an image transformation - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on sustainable 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 remain skeptical that biojetfuels, generally mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial influence on public understandings about luxury travel.
"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from organization jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow said.
World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter companies and experts are also seeing more interest from customers 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 study his business just recently finished 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) chauffeur. But I believe people are ending up being more aware of 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
Bev Maclanachan edited this page 2025-01-12 12:15:41 +08:00