GitLab

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 smooth silhouettes, plush cabins - and progressively, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to display unique kinds of air travel fuel deemed less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.

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

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions could make organization jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - specifically corporations facing concerns over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less polluting personal jets might also spare the rich and famous the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a current private 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 include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products 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 product is inedible."

Some of the other 79 airplane on display 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 represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, however can give off, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has safeguarded his periodic use of private jets to ensure his family's safety, and has actually said that on the unusual events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his travel plan have added fresh difficulties for a market already making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are regrettable when you consider that our market has actually provided fuel effectiveness enhancements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will assist the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry data, billionaires just have a 19% service jet ownership rate.

But even an image transformation - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on renewable fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for going to aircrafts - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain skeptical that biojetfuels, typically mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial effect on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business 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 might drive future production, Sherbacow said.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of at its California plant, might expand production approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and consultants are also seeing more interest from customers who wish to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

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

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, expense per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I believe individuals are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)