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 program in Las Vegas high-end jets are enticing buyers with their smooth shapes, luxurious cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to display novel types of air travel fuel deemed less damaging to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually bowed to environmental pressure on air travel and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make service jets more appealing to ecologically conscious buyers - specifically corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less jets might likewise spare the rich and famous the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current personal jet journey to southern France.

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

The current waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer 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 screen 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 overall annual carbon emissions globally, however can give off, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his periodic use of personal jets to guarantee his family's security, and has said that on the rare celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state occurrences such as the furore over his schedule have added fresh difficulties for an industry currently making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving the use of personal jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has delivered fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

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

Environmentalists and some analysts stay skeptical that biojetfuels, generally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable influence 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 organization jet operators for renewable fuels now far goes beyond 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 companies and consultants are also seeing more interest from clients who desire to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

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

"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 becoming more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)