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 most significant industry program in Las Vegas luxury jets are tempting purchasers with their smooth shapes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase unique forms of air travel fuel deemed less hazardous to the climate, from used cooking oil to the noticeably less glamorous meat waste.

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

Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to suppress emissions could make organization jets more appealing to environmentally mindful buyers - particularly corporations dealing with questions over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less polluting private jets could also spare the rich and famous the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a current private jet journey to southern France.

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

The current waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food industry," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief 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 are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total yearly carbon emissions internationally, but can give off, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has safeguarded his occasional usage of personal jets to guarantee his household's security, and has said that on the rare occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say occurrences such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh difficulties for an industry already striving to justify its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming involving using private jets are unfortunate when you consider that our industry has delivered fuel effectiveness improvements of 40% over the previous 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

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

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for visiting aircrafts - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts stay hesitant that biojetfuels, usually combined 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant influence 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 expert Richard Aboulafia.

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

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and experts are likewise seeing more interest from consumers who desire to credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions contributed in a corporate jet usage research study his business just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) driver. But I think individuals 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)