By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are drawing purchasers with their streamlined silhouettes, plush cabins - and increasingly, their usage of alternative fuels.
Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to display unique kinds of air travel fuel deemed less damaging to the climate, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually bowed to environmental pressure on aviation and devoted to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.
Their hope is that embracing eco-friendly fuel to curb emissions could make service jets more appealing to ecologically conscious purchasers - particularly corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors 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 current private jet trip to southern France.
Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.
The most recent waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief business officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.
"All of our product is inedible."
Some of the other 79 aircraft on display screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the program.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets account for less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions internationally, but can discharge, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.
Prince Harry has actually defended his occasional use of private jets to guarantee his household's security, and has said that on the uncommon celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers state events such as the furore over his travel plan have actually added fresh difficulties for an industry currently striving to justify its contribution to cutting business costs.
"Incidents of flight shaming involving using personal jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has actually delivered fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel use will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to industry information, billionaires just have a 19% service jet ownership rate.
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.
Environmentalists and some analysts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant impact on public perceptions about luxury travel.
"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make company jets look eco-friendly," said air travel analyst Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from organization jet operators for renewable 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 broaden production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter business and consultants are likewise seeing more interest from clients who desire to buy carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a function in a business jet utilization research study his business just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.
"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, expense per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I think people are ending up being more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)
