Etihad Airways has started its test flights for Boeing's ecoDemonstrator programme, a scheme which aims to create a more sustainable way of flying.
In partnership with the US aircraft manufacturer and Nasa, the UAE's national airline is trialling technology that could help reduce aircraft noise and cut emissions in the future.
Etihad's new 787-10 Dreamliner is due to be delivered to Abu Dhabi by the end of September, but before that happens, the jet has some important work to do.
As the first Dreamliner to partake in Boeing's ecoDemonstrator programme, the 787 will make a series of test flights to gather information on several technologies. Results will be shared with aviation industry leaders as a means to help improve airspace efficiency, reduce fuel use, lower noise for the community and cut flight emissions.
More than 1,000 microphones on board
The Dreamliner has been fitted with 1,200 microphones, which will be used to gather data about acoustics, something that Nasa has a keen interest in.
“At Nasa, we’ve been researching the individual aircraft noise sources, their interactions with the airframe and how they combine to the total aircraft noise,” said Nasa's technical lead, Dr Russell Thomas.
“This unique, carefully designed flight test provides the environment where all these effects are measured, which will be key to advancing our ability to design lower-noise aircraft.”
Coronavirus-related testing
As part of Boeing’s Confident Travel Initiative to address Covid-19, the jet will also be used to test the effectiveness of airline policies on disinfection in relation to the coronavirus.
A hand-held ultraviolet light that Boeing has invented will be tested during the Dreamliner's ecoDemonstrator flights. Results will help determine whether the wand should be added to cabin cleaning tools currently in use to disinfect and sanitise cabins and flight decks.
Etihad previously carried out in-service trials on some of its Boeing and Airbus aircrafts to provide initial feedback on the second generation prototype of the wand.
Flying for a sustainable future
The testing programme is set to last about 10 days and all of the flights are being flown on a blend of 50 per cent sustainable fuel.
“Sustainability remains a priority for Etihad in spite of the current Covid-19 crisis and this is just one initiative we’ve taken since the start of the pandemic to continue our drive for sustainable aviation," explained Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Aviation Group's chief operating officer.
"As far as Etihad is concerned, environmental sustainability shouldn’t be an option or fair-weather project to be shelved when it’s not convenient against other challenges.”
Etihad will release more information and updates on the test flights over the coming 10 days as it aims to test technologies to help find real-world solutions that can make flying safer and more sustainable.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
