By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are enticing purchasers with their streamlined shapes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.
Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel forms of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the environment, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually bowed to environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.
Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to curb emissions might make company jets more attractive to ecologically mindful purchasers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green project groups.
The accessibility of less contaminating personal jets might also spare the abundant and popular the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his spouse Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on screen in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The latest waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
A few of the other 79 aircraft on 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 overall annual carbon emissions globally, but can emit, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.
Prince Harry has safeguarded his occasional use of private jets to ensure his household's safety, and has actually said that on the unusual celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers state occurrences such as the furore over his schedule have included fresh obstacles for an industry currently making every effort to validate its contribution to cutting corporate costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming including using private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has actually provided fuel efficiency improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.
But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to airplanes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.
Environmentalists and some experts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, generally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public understandings about luxury travel.
"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from company jet operators for renewable fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.
World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could expand production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter companies and specialists are also seeing more interest from consumers 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 usage research study his business just recently completed for a Fortune 500 company.
"At the end of the day, I believe that price, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think people are ending up being more knowledgeable about 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
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