By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's most significant market show in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel types of aviation fuel considered less damaging to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and committed to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to suppress emissions might make business jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - especially corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.
The availability of less contaminating private jets could likewise spare the abundant and popular the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a recent private jet trip 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 market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary business officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.
"All of our item is inedible."
A few of the other 79 airplane on screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the show.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, however can give off, on average, up to 20 times more per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has actually defended his occasional use of private jets to guarantee his household's security, and has actually stated that on the rare celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers state events such as the furore over his schedule have added fresh challenges for an industry already aiming to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming involving using private jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has delivered fuel performance improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel use will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to market data, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.
But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for going to planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.
Environmentalists and some experts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant effect on public perceptions about luxury travel.
"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make organization jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation expert Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from business jet operators for eco-friendly 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 as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter business and experts are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who want to buy 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 company recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.
"At the end of the day, I think that cost, cost per hour, variety, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I think individuals are becoming more conscious of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (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
Leandra Smithson edited this page 2025-01-12 04:44:23 +00:00