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New HR Policy! Just for Fun :)

Solar-powered Swiss plane attempts flight around world

Aircraft takes off from the UAE without a drop of fuel for flight aimed at raising awareness about clean technologies.

A Swiss solar-powered plane has taken off from Abu Dhabi, marking the start of the first attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fuel.

The Solar Impulse 2, piloted by Andre Borschberg of Switzerland, took off at 7:12am local time (0412 GMT) on Monday from the UAE's Al-Bateen airport and headed to Muscat, the capital of Oman, where it is expected to land later after the first leg of the journey.

The developers say the aim is to create awareness about replacing "old polluting technologies with clean and efficient technologies".

Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse co-founder, was at the controls of the single-seater when it took off from the Al Bateen airport in the United Arab Emirates on Monday morning.

The take-off, which was originally scheduled for Saturday but delayed due to high winds, capped 13 years of research and testing by Borschberg and fellow Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard.

They will take turns to fly the plane around the world and switch seats during stopovers.

Two hours and 15 minutes into the flight, Borschberg was 13 percent of the way to Muscat and attempting to give media interviews before calling his wife, according to a website monitoring his progress.

'Human challenge'

Shortly before take-off, Borschberg, 63, said on Twitter that the "challenge to come is real for me & the airplane".

"This project is a human project, it is a human challenge," Borschberg said on Sunday.

The wingspan of the one-seater plane, known as the Si2, is slightly bigger than that of a jumbo jet, but its weight is around that of a family car.

From Muscat, it will make 12 stops on an epic journey spread over five months, with a total flight time of around 25 days.

It will cross the Arabian Sea to India before heading on to Myanmar, China, Hawaii and New York.

Landings are also earmarked for the midwestern US and either southern Europe or North Africa, depending on weather conditions.

The longest single leg will see a lone pilot fly non-stop for five days across the Pacific Ocean between Nanjing, China and Hawaii, a distance of 8,500km.

Borschberg and Piccard will alternate stints flying the plane, which can hold only one person, with the aircraft able to fly on autopilot during rest breaks.

The pilots have undergone intensive training in preparation for the trip, including in yoga and self-hypnosis, allowing them to sleep for periods as short as 20 minutes but awaken feeling refreshed.

All this will happen without burning a drop of fuel.

Monaco connection

The pilots will be linked to a control centre in Monaco where 65 weathermen, air traffic controllers and engineers will be stationed. A team of 65 support staff will travel with the two pilots.

Should a problem occur while sleeping, the ground staff can wake up the pilot.

"We want to share our vision of a clean future," Piccard, 57, who is chairman of Solar Impulse, said of the mission.

"Climate change is a fantastic opportunity to bring in the market new green technologies that save energy, save natural resources of our planet, make profit, create jobs, and sustain growth."

The pilots' idea was ridiculed by the aviation industry when it was first unveiled.

But Piccard, who hails from a family of scientist-adventurers and who in 1999 became the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon, clung to his belief that clean technology and renewable energy "can achieve the impossible".

The plane is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings that, at 236ft, are longer than a jumbo and approaching that of an Airbus A380 superjumbo.

Thanks to an innovative design, the lightweight carbon fibre aircraft weighs only 2.3 tonnes, about the same as a family 4x4 and less than one percent of the weight of the A380.

The Si2 is the first solar-powered aircraft able to stay aloft for several days and nights.

Lithium batteries

The propeller craft has four 17.5 horsepower electric motors with rechargeable lithium batteries.

It will travel at 50-100km per hour, with the slower speeds at night to prevent the batteries from draining too quickly.

The Si2 is the successor to Solar Impulse, a smaller aircraft that notched up a 26-hour flight in 2010, proving its ability to store enough power in the batteries during the day to keep flying at night.

It made its last successful test flight in the UAE on March 2, and mission chiefs reported no problems.

It is scheduled to arrive back in Abu Dhabi in July, flown by Piccard.

For him, "the project should not finish in July, it should start in July."

A petition was launched at futureisclean.org to campaign in favour of clean energy. Its progress can be monitored via live video streaming at www.solarimpulse.com.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

How to Get a Pay-Hike in the UAE?

The UAE has been buzzing lately, either due to the career opportunities, which seem to be brimful or the booming sectors, which are pushing the economy’s growth beyond its limits. Of course, any aspiring professional would vouch for a career in this country happily.

But have you ever given the remuneration prospects some serious consideration?

Obviously, a country where an accountant earns AED 69,284 and a marketing manager earns AED 203,277 (as on 10^th Dec 2014), salary is not that big a problem. Plus, there sure are factors like the current talent-crunch and increased job vacancies that indicate towards a hefty pay hike during 2015.

However, a reputed gulf-based website suggests that an average salary increase of 4.8% is expected in 2015.

Yes, these facts might seem contradicting, but UAE is always known to harbor uncertainties that transform into results favoring a people inclusive growth.

Hence, the discussion to follow will talk about certain common yet overlooked aspects that need a fair share of your focus. Heeding to these, you can easily gain a pay hike, while working in this exotic Arab land.

Dart sufficient glances and arm yourself to success!

What makes up your basic salary/ compensation package in the UAE?

Before we progress towards the right way to go about it, it’s quite imperative to consider the chunks that add on to form the basic salary or your overall package in the country.

·         Basic Remuneration

·         Paid annual leave for 30 days (21 days during the first year of employment)

·         Medical insurance by the government (some employers provide private medical insurance post the probation period)

·         The costs associated with the recruitment process and getting the visa processed

·         Gratuity Amount

·         Travelling allowance for the flight back to your country, after the expiry of your work contract

How to Go About It?

You Need to Do Your Homework

Before you put your case forth, you need to undergo some research. It’s quite significant to know what someone with the same position and the years of experience typically gets paid in the UAE. This will help you draw a much accurate comparison. Websites like PayScale and Hays might prove handy during this step.

The salary might also vary from emirate to emirate. For instance, a civil engineer earning AED 115,274 in Dubai might make AED 123,147 (as on 10^th Dec 2014), while working in Abu Dhabi.

In addition to this, the company structure in many of the companies includes a family hierarchy. Try to find the one associated with your employer. Who knows, nepotism might just work!

Get Your Objectives in Line

Walking into a negotiation without a clean set of justified goals might make the whole process futile. Define the raise you’re aiming for and don’t be afraid to quote a figure that’s high, unless it’s unrealistic. Validate the figure by drawing a clear picture of your efforts and the expenses you bear, while workingin the UAE.

Go for a Contract Compliant Negotiation

Before you start haggling, remember that the increase you expect might not be more than the stipulated salary rate in your employment contract. This generally holds valid throughout the term of your work contract in the UAE. For example, minimum wage laws exist in a lot of countries except for Dubai, where the employers aren’t bound to give 13^th month cheques or any annual hike.

Consider Other Perks too!

While a pay-hike might not be guaranteed, it’s a worthwhile idea to consider other perks associated with your job. Some of them include:

·         Relocation assistance

·         Private medical insurance

·         Accommodation and transportation allowances

·         Vehicular allowance

·         Food allowance

·         Furnishing allowance

·         Mobile phone allowance

Heed to the Social Conventions in the Country

Working in the country, by now you must be accustomed to the social norms practiced. Keeping the fact that the decision taking authority would probably be a local senior official, in mind, there are certain subtleties that need your attention. For instance, scheduling the meeting on Friday (the prayer day) might not be a worthwhile idea. Moreover, things like avoiding pointing your soles towards the counterparties and passing all documents with your right hand are other things to keep in mind.

The UAE stands today with a plethora of opportunities for one to explore a highly lucrative career, in whatever field you desire. Salary is just a single aspect, which can be taken care of, keeping the above tips in mind. All you need is to hang in there, your best is yet to be witnessed!


- Anshuman Kukreti

Author Bio: Anshuman Kukreti is a professional writer and a keen follower of the global job market. An engineer by qualification and an artist at heart, he writes on various topics related to employment across the gulf. 
Reach him @ LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.