Wednesday, 29 February 2012

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Preparations continue for launching engine Icing research


NASA scientists are making progress in their preparations to mount a detailed research campaign aimed at solving a modern-day aviation mystery involving the unlikely combination of fire and ice inside a running jet engine.
The investigation deals with the seemingly strange notion that ice crystals associated with warm-weather storms can be ingested into the core of a jet engine, melt and then re-freeze, potentially causing the engine to lose power or shut down altogether. Safety officials have documented more than 150 incidents of this phenomenon since 1988. Most of the incidents have occurred in the tropics.
"It doesn't seem intuitive that ice can form in the core of a warm engine," said Ron Colantonio, manager of the Atmospheric Environment Safety Technologies Project at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.  
So in order to make sense of the mystery, NASA and its research partners are planning to gather information by flying a specially-outfitted business jet in high-altitude, warm-weather conditions suspected of having a large amount of ice crystals.  
Technicians in California are currently modifying a Gulfstream G2 airplane to hold a suite of meteorological instruments, with hopes of having everything ready for initial trial runs of the full setup in Florida this August.  
The research team then will take the lessons learned from their trial runs, make appropriate changes and prepare for the primary campaign, which is now targeted between January and March, 2013. These flights will take place over Darwin, Australia, an area known for having the type of storms that include high levels of ice crystals.  
Meanwhile, another set of investigators will be preparing the ground segment of the research, which involves simulating the engine icing conditions in an engine test facility at Glenn, as well as refining new computer codes to help predict where and when the engine icing conditions exist.  
For now, pilots are being trained to recognize the potential existence of these ice crystals, which are about the same size as baking soda, and advised to avoid the weather conditions as best they can. Although a potential hazard, no accident has been attributed to the phenomenon in the 23 years since it was identified.  
In most of the known cases, pilots have managed to restore engine power and reach their destinations without further problems. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been two forced landings.  
For example, in 2005, both engines of a Beechcraft business jet failed at 38,000 feet above Jacksonville, Fla. The pilot safely glided the aircraft to an airport, dodging thunderstorms and ominous clouds on the way down. 
It is expected that updated flight safety rules and engine testing standards will be adopted once all the research is compiled and analyzed during the next few years.
(Courtesy:www.sciencedaily.com) 
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Tuesday, 28 February 2012

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Six reasons why you didn't get the job


"What the...why...." – that kind of goes through our head when we sit there staring at the screen with yet another rejection  from that job you thought you'd have been perfect for. The interview went awesome - there was a definite vibe going on...so then what gives? Why do you keep receiving the same generic "too many applicants - good luck for the future" mail of doom?!
Sometimes if you're really lucky you may get some form of direction in the e-mail or phone call. However, even these are fairly cryptic and run along the lines of them "finding someone with more experience" or "you did great but we were just looking for something a little different". Definitely not the most helpful ideas when it's time to do some preparatoy work for your next interview.
So here we've put together 6 reasons on why you didn’t land a job that seemed like a sure thing. Sure, no employer will ever really admit to these officially but sadly it happens more often than you'd think. If you suspect it’s why you find yourself still poring over job postings, keep on looking for a place that values you for you. 
We din't like you
People are different and teams that have been together have learned to function in a particular way. Likeability isn't something that comes across on a CV and to truly find out if you're a good fit for an organisation - the face to face meet up has to be done.

ADVICE: There's not much point in putting on a personality you think others will like. It'll be hard to keep up such a convincing act beyond the first month of landing the job. It's been said before a gazillion times but we'll say it again - be yourself (the best possible version of yourself). If the interviewers don't understand or get you - it's better to keep hunting for a place you'll be comfortable. 
You are not Attractive
Wait wait wait...so people actually judge a book by its cover? Let's not be totally naive here - employers are human and much like humans - they are swayed by superficial elements. This is not true for everyone and a true professional will always pay more attention to what you're bringing to the office instead of being just a pretty face.
ADVICE: Make the effort before you head on in for an interview. Look your sharpest and give it your all. If you feel like you didn't get the job because of the model look-alike sitting next to you waiting to go in - chances are you've just done yourself a favour and walked away from working in an organisation where productivity is more of an afterthought. 
You are too much attractive
The exact opposite of the scenario mentioned above could happen as well. You could very well be the model that walked into the interview room and didn't get the job because - well you were much too attractive. So why is looking good costing you a job? Quite simply the interviewers may feel the dynamic in the office might change and you would prove to be a distraction to existing employees even if that is the thing farthest from your mind.
ADVICE: Sure, if the job you were going in for was a modelling one - you're gold. But few jobs would really require stunning good looks. If you want to be taken seriously and prove you have a mind under your hat - bring along a track record of strong performance in previous roles and/or endeavours. 
We hired a minister's brother-in-law
Once the jobs posted, it is a bit of a free for all. An old friend or ex-colleague who an employer once worked with is bound to have a bit of an edge over you.
ADVICE: You can't take something like this personally. It happens now and again, and if you were in the same position where you knew how someone works and have an established chemistry with - it would be hard to pass up especially when experience is matched to a tee. 
We intend to hire an insider 
A set up from the get go? How dare they! If they wanted to promote someone internally what was the point of tantalizing you with promises of this awesome job? It happens and we're not fans of it either...
ADVICE: C'est la vie right? Just like Reason 4 you can't take this personally. Let it wash over you and vent with some friends. It's near impossible for you to know what's going on in the deepest depths of the company so no sense in stressing about it. 
We found someone who let us exploit them
Ah experience. Seems like everyone wants it but how to get it without being given the opportunity. Some employers are willing to make a trade off. Little to no pay in exchange for you filling up your CV. Hardly fair but in today's cut throat market - it's one of the easier tactics for an employer to deploy in order to cut back on costs.
ADVICE: Find a place that respects your rights and strengths. Good focussed employers will not rely on short-termism and wish for development to be an integral part of your time at the company. It's out there and the search can be disheartening and daunting. Try and remain as positive as possible and give it your all.
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Saturday, 25 February 2012

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Aircraft of the Future Could Capture and Re-Use Some of Their Own Power


Tomorrow's aircraft could contribute to their power needs by harnessing energy from the wheel rotation of their landing gear to generate electricity.
They could use this to power their taxiing to and from airport buildings, reducing the need to use their jet engines. This would save on aviation fuel, cut emissions and reduce noise pollution at airports.
The feasibility of this has been confirmed by a team of engineers from the University of Lincoln with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The energy produced by a plane's braking system during landing -- currently wasted as heat produced by friction in the aircraft's disc brakes -- would be captured and converted into electricity by motor-generators built into the landing gear. The electricity would then be stored and supplied to the in-hub motors in the wheels of the plane when it needed to taxi.
'Engine-less taxiing' could therefore become a reality. ACARE (the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) has made engine-less taxiing one of the key objectives beyond 2020 for the European aviation industry.
"Taxiing is a highly fuel-inefficient part of any trip by plane with emissions and noise pollution caused by jet engines being a huge issue for airports all over the world," says Professor Paul Stewart, who led the research.
"If the next generation of aircraft that emerges over the next 15 to 20 years could incorporate this kind of technology, it would deliver enormous benefits, especially for people living near airports. Currently, commercial aircraft spend a lot of time on the ground with their noisy jet engines running. In the future this technology could significantly reduce the need to do that."
The University of Lincoln's research formed part of a project that aimed to assess the basic feasibility of as many ways of capturing energy from a landing aircraft as possible.
"When an Airbus 320 lands, for example, a combination of its weight and speed gives it around three megawatts peak available power," Professor Stewart explains. "We explored a wide variety of ways of harnessing that energy, such as generating electricity from the interaction between copper coils embedded in the runway and magnets attached to the underside of the aircraft, and then feeding the power produced into the local electricity grid."
Unfortunately, most of the ideas weren't technically feasible or simply wouldn't be cost-effective. But the study showed that capturing energy direct from a plane's landing gear and recycling it for the aircraft's own use really could work, particularly if integrated with new technologies emerging from current research related to the more-electric or all-electric aircraft.
A number of technical challenges would need to be overcome. For example, weight would be a key issue, so a way of minimising the amount of conductors and electronic power converters used in an on-board energy recovery system would need to be identified.
The project was carried out under the auspices of the EPSRC-funded Airport Energy Technologies Network (AETN) established in 2008 to undertake low-carbon research in the field of aviation, and was undertaken in collaboration with researchers at the University of Loughborough
(Courtesy:www.sciencedaily.com)
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Friday, 24 February 2012

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Tips for Telephonic Interview


telephone 300x203 Tips for Telephonic InterviewTelephonic interview, though may sound easier and convenient for your, as you don’t need to travel to a specified venue and bother about your attire and looks. But its not actually that casual, it is as much technical an interview as is personal interview. And thus and thereby you need to prepare as much for these interviews as well. To secure the job, you are applying for, your every move needs to be right and then and thereby you need to get good score in the interview. While preparing for a telephonic interview, follow the below tips:
  1. Pre-Interview Preparations: Collect as much information about the company and the job-profile, you are applying for, as that will guide and help you score well. Further mark out the points and grounds that match you with the profile-requirements and the company’s hiring process.
  2. Be Alert: Take notes of all important points for further reference, if needed, Keep your resume ready before you so that you need not waste time remembering your details. If possible, keep company’s site open to refer, if need be.
  3. Build an Ambiance: Since the interview venue is your home, so its your responsibility to build a proper ambiance, there must not be distractions and noise around you as they not only hinder you focus but at the same time makes a very bad impression.
  4. Prepare and practice for the interview: Look out for the common questions/pattern of questions and prepare your answers. While practicing, well verse your tone and pitch appropriately for the interview as your voice in representing your candidature.
  5. Telephonic etiquette: Check properly, which telephonic mode are you using, if land-line evacuate the area around you. And in case you are using you mobile, the your location must be having good signal, turn off call-waiting, the background must not be noisy and disturbing. Preferably use land-line for better sound and signal quality.
  6. Be Focused: Listen properly and attentively to the questions, and be clear about what is being asked and while answering be calm and patient but confident. Have a glass of water ready nearby yourself, for the situation if your mouth dries up or if you get a throat-itch.
  7. Manage your body-language: Though at home and once visible verbally, but still your body language matters a lot. Modulate your voice appropriately, smile where needed and be alert and focused and don’t ever be too casual or clumsy.
  8. Prepare Questions: Get yourself a list of most common questions on this platform and prepare your answers accordingly. Do have a list of questions to ask from the interviewer as well like job responsibilities, etc.. that shows your interest and alertness.
  9. Follow-up after Interview: Be sure to have your interviewer’s number/email id or not. Once your interview is over, send them a thanks note and express your interest excitement in the job/company.
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Thursday, 23 February 2012

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Tips for More Effective Time Management

If you're going to take control of YOUR life and make it great, you'll need to start by taking control of your time. Time management is foundational to succeeding in any area of life. In the words of "the father of management theory" Peter Drucker, "until we can manage TIME, we can manage nothing else."

An entire industry has been born out of the need to better manage our time. You can buy leather bound planners, fancy software packages, books, tapes and hand-held computers. You can even attend week long seminars that teach better time management skills.
We sure most of those resources are very good. We like to suggest however, before spending your hard earned money on any of them, you try these 10 simple tips for effective time management.


1. It's not time management. It's self management. You can't control time and so, you certainly can't manage it. You get as much time as anyone else. You CAN control yourself - what you be and do in each moment of time. In the words of English poet, Austin Dobson, "Time goes, you say? Ah, no! Alas, time stays, we go."
2. Keep and USE a simple, "block" type, weekly calendar. Eg.,Use a two page weekly calendar with one hour increments in each block. Page 1 covers Mon-Sun, 4 a.m.-12 noon. Page 2 covers Mon-Sun, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. Each one hour block of time should be big enough to write in any appointments. You can use Microsoft Works to print a calendar such as this. Keep it with you at all times.
3. Keep a simple, "block" type, monthly calendar. Any appointments that don't fall in the current week can be written in one of the blocks on your monthly calendar. Again, Microsoft Works will produce a monthly calendar such as this. Keep this calendar with you all the time as well.
4. Plan your week in advance. Spend an hour Sunday evening planning the coming week. Transfer appointments from your monthly calendar to your weekly calendar. When you see how many open blocks of time you actually have, you'll feel a much greater sense of control and peace.
5. Invest each one hour block of time. Each of your one hour blocks represents an investment opportunity. How you invest your block will determine your future return. What you sow in each block, you will reap in future blocks. Consider cutting back on any activities that will not yield some benefit, such as excessive TV or web surfing.
6. Plan and schedule as much as you can. Don't just schedule work related appointments. Schedule as much as possible, such as time with your kids, family or significant other, sleep, eating, exercise, spiritual practice, reading, TV time, play time, laundry, shopping, writing, marketing your business, answering emails and phone calls.
7. As much as possible, stay in the current block mentally. If your block for 8:00 p.m., Monday says "type newsletter," direct all your energies to typing your newsletter. Don't even think about what your block for 9:00 p.m., Tuesday evening says or what you didn't complete in your block for 6:00 p.m., Monday evening. Be and do 100 % in the current block.
8. Say "NO" to non-emergency, "out of the block" activities.
Eliminate distractions as much as possible. Close your door, turn off the ringer on your phone or simply ask to not be disturbed. With the exception of emergencies, the only thing that matters is what you have to do in the current block.
9. Plan "untimed" or free time just for you. It's okay, and I'd suggest even healthy to plan time to just "goof-off" or play. If you set aside time for it in advance, it's less likely to come up spontaneously and distract you from other tasks.
10. Stick to your plan.
Need we say more? Your schedule will work only as well as you commit to it. Keep it with you everywhere you go and refer to it often. Keep asking yourself "am being and doing what scheduled for the current block right now?"
By incorporating these 10 tips into your time/self management plan, you'll create more space to be, do and have more in you life. Further, you'll also approach your life in a more proactive and intentional manner.
If you have any questions about the "In the Block" time/self management plan, feel free to email me. I'd love to hear from you!
It's your life. Make it great!
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