"From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine," says Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi. Andrew Henderson / The National
"From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine," says Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi. Andrew Henderson / The National
"From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine," says Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi. Andrew Henderson / The National
"From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine," says Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi. Andrew Henderson / The National

Controlling traffic is not all plain sailing


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Abdulla Rashed Al Rashdi has been an air-traffic controller for the past 23 years. He is a senior supervisor at Abu Dhabi International Airport and speaks about a typical day directing traffic.

4.30am

I get up.

6am

The first thing I do is the handover. (The previous supervisor) briefs me.

6.15am

I make the daily reports and the roster. I have eight to nine controllers. I cannot let the controller work more than two-and-a-half hours because of stress. You have a medical check every year, so you have to be fit - no diabetics and no high blood pressure.

7am

I plug in. I am a manager, but I have to work. Otherwise, I would lose my touch. From the time I run the shift, Abu Dhabi airspace is mine. If anything flies it's with my permission. Sometimes pilots you are dealing with don't communicate in good English, so you have to be careful. And you have to be sharp. We selected three (people to train to be controllers) out of 800 candidates.

9am

Someone else relieves me and I take a break. I leave the operation room. You have to pull yourself out.

9.30am

I come back to the office and make my daily report for the handover and there is an operations report.

Lunchtime

I don't eat (at my desk). It's not allowed in case you spill water on the system. But you get used to it. Every day I have different issues to deal with. About two months ago … when the west-bound European flights were coming, a guy declared an emergency. He had a problem with the hydraulics. So I opened the north runway. In our job you have to take a decision within five seconds. I have to have a plan B and plan C. If the pilot is declaring an emergency he is panicking, so I have to be calm to remove his fear. The more you do it, the more experience you have, the easier it is (to deal with the stress). But if I get stressed I call my family and speak to them.

2pm

I make the report for the handover. I check … if there is a VVIP (very very important person) movement, like a presidential flight. We have procedures. We shut down the airspace. I brief the next supervisor.

2.30pm

I have a hot bath when I get home. It helps me relax. I like to see my kids.

7pm

I like to swim.

9pm

I spend time with my family.

11.30pm

I have a hot shower, hot drink and go to bed.

* Gillian Duncan

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

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While you're here
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Recycle Reuse Repurpose

New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to  handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors

Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site

Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area

Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent  organic waste  and 13 per cent  general waste.

About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor

Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:

Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled

Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays

Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters

Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill 

The five new places of worship

Church of South Indian Parish

St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch

St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch

St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais

Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais

 

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4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

If you go

The flights

The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings

The stay

Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.

 

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The specs

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Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES

Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
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Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)

Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
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Starring: Michael B Jordan

4/5