By Allison Lampert
LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring buyers with their sleek shapes, plush cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.
Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are eager to display novel kinds of aviation fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.
Business jet operators, like airlines, have acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and devoted to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.
Their hope is that adopting eco-friendly fuel to suppress emissions might make business jets more attractive to environmentally mindful buyers - specifically corporations facing concerns over sustainability from shareholders or green campaign groups.
The accessibility of less polluting personal jets might likewise spare the abundant and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan over a current 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 by-products of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary commercial 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 airplane on display screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the program.
FLIGHT SHAMING
Private jets represent less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions globally, however can produce, typically, up to 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.
Prince Harry has protected his periodic usage of personal jets to ensure his family's safety, and has actually said that on the uncommon occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.
But planemakers say events such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh difficulties for a market already making every effort to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.
"Incidents of flight shaming including the usage of private jets are regrettable when you consider that our market has actually provided fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.
Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel use will help the market make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to market information, billionaires just have a 19% company jet ownership rate.
But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this airplane flies on sustainable fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for going to planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet occasion.
Environmentalists and some analysts stay skeptical that biojetfuels, typically combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable effect on public perceptions about high-end travel.
"No quantity of Jatropha or Brazil-nut fuel can make organization jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.
Demand from organization jet operators for sustainable 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 expand production up to 150 million gallons by 2022.
Corporate charter business and consultants are also seeing more interest from consumers who wish to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.
Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions contributed in a corporate jet utilization study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.
"At the end of the day, I think that price, expense per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I think individuals are becoming more knowledgeable about the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)
