1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Leta Mead edited this page 2025-01-15 11:58:08 -06:00


By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique types of air travel fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous 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 sustainable fuel to curb emissions might make service jets more appealing to environmentally mindful purchasers - particularly corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating personal jets might likewise spare the abundant and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan over a recent private jet trip to southern France.

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

The newest waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 aircraft on display are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions internationally, however can release, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has protected his periodic usage of private jets to guarantee his family's safety, and has actually stated that on the unusual celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say occurrences such as the furore over his itinerary have included fresh obstacles for an industry already making every effort to justify 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 actually provided fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely 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 substantial effect on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service 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 expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

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

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions contributed in a corporate jet utilization research study his business recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, expense per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think people are ending up being more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it affects the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)