1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Adell McAlexander edited this page 2025-01-12 19:46:55 +08:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring purchasers with their smooth shapes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to display novel types of air travel fuel deemed less hazardous to the environment, from used cooking oil to the definitely less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have bowed to environmental pressure on air travel and committed to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.

Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to curb emissions might make organization jets more appealing to ecologically conscious buyers - especially corporations facing concerns over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less polluting personal jets might also spare the abundant and well-known the unfavorable publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan over a recent personal jet trip to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display in Las Vegas are fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The most recent 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 product is inedible."

Some of the other 79 aircraft on screen are expected 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 yearly carbon emissions internationally, however can release, usually, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per guest mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

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

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his schedule have included fresh obstacles for a market currently striving to justify its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our market has actually provided fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel use will assist the industry make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to industry information, billionaires only have a 19% service jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on renewable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out airplanes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

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

"No amount of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said air travel expert Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from business jet operators for eco-friendly 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, might expand production approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and specialists are likewise 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 company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I think that cost, expense per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) driver. But I think people are ending up being more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)