1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show
Brian Smoot edited this page 2025-01-11 22:19:04 +08:00


By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest industry show in Las jets are drawing buyers with their smooth shapes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel kinds of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the noticeably less attractive 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 adopting eco-friendly fuel to suppress emissions might make organization jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating private jets could also spare the rich and popular the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better 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 most recent waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief business 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 aircraft on display screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions internationally, but can emit, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has safeguarded his periodic usage of private jets to ensure his household's safety, and has actually stated that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his schedule have actually added fresh obstacles for a market currently aiming to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving using personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has actually delivered fuel performance enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to market 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 including alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, generally combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial impact on public understandings about luxury travel.

"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," said air travel analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from service jet operators for renewable fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could broaden production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and experts are also seeing more interest from consumers who wish 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 business jet utilization study his business just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, expense per hour, variety, speed and performance, 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)