1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Amee Sommer edited this page 2025-01-12 11:25:00 +08:00


By Allison Lampert

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

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel forms of air travel fuel deemed less damaging to the climate, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually bowed to environmental pressure on aviation and committed to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to suppress emissions could make service jets more attractive to environmentally mindful buyers - particularly corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating private jets could likewise spare the rich and well-known the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a current personal 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 consist of "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 airplane on screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes anticipated to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of overall annual carbon emissions worldwide, but can produce, on average, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has actually defended his occasional use of private jets to guarantee his household's safety, and has stated that on the rare occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say events such as the furore over his itinerary have included fresh obstacles for an industry currently aiming to justify its to cutting corporate expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including the use of private jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel use will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% company jet ownership rate.

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting aircrafts - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, usually mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make service jets look eco-friendly," said aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for sustainable 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 approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and specialists are also 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, stated emissions contributed in a corporate jet utilization research study his company recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

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