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

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By Allison Lampert

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

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to display unique kinds of air travel fuel considered less hazardous to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the distinctly less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and dedicated to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to suppress emissions might make organization jets more attractive to environmentally mindful purchasers - especially corporations facing questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The schedule of less contaminating personal jets might likewise spare the rich and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his other half Meghan over a current private jet journey to .

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

The latest waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief industrial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

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

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions globally, but can produce, on average, as much as 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based personal charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has defended his periodic use of personal jets to ensure his household's safety, and has 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 challenges for an industry currently striving to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.

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

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

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this airplane flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting airplanes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, generally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a substantial influence on public understandings about luxury travel.

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

Demand from service jet operators for sustainable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow said.

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 companies and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who want 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 usage research study his company just recently finished for a Fortune 500 business.

"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 impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)