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Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Rosa Whitman edited this page 2025-01-18 11:54:40 +08:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry show in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing purchasers with their streamlined shapes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to display novel forms of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and devoted to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions might make company jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - especially corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less polluting personal jets might likewise spare the rich and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a recent private jet trip to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on screen in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The newest waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, primary industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 aircraft on display screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel blends expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, but can emit, usually, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

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

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his travel plan have actually included fresh difficulties for a market already aiming to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving making use of personal jets are regrettable when you think about that our industry has provided fuel performance enhancements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel usage will help the market make inroads with corporations and rich buyers. According to industry information, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.

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

Environmentalists and some experts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, generally combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial effect on public understandings about high-end travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from organization jet operators for renewable fuels now far exceeds supply and their interest could 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 consultants are also seeing more interest from who desire to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

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

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