ORICAL - mod.gov.om · Annual Magazne - 13 th Edition (1434 H - 2013) Importance of English students EFFECTS OF WORK ON AIRCREW ORICAL OMAN

Air Force Technical College Annual Magazne - 13th Edition (1434 H - 2013)

Importance of English

for AFTC students

EFFECTS OF WORK

PRESSURE ON AIRCREW

BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL

OMAN

Knowledge and work are inseparable, since you cannot dispense with one without the other. It is through these that nations can develop their illustrious qualities and shape their present and future existence. It is through this that human beings fulfill themselves and achieve their ambitions for a decent, stable life and a future brimming with hope and prosperity. We are certain that Omani society is fully aware of this fact.

“Quotation from the Royal Speeech by His Mageaty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said

Supreme Commander Of Sultan Armed Forceson the Occasion of the Annual Opening of Majils

Oman, 2006

Correspondence Address: Editor in Chief P.O.Box: 732 Postal Code: 111 , Tel: 24320664 Fax: 24320841

The opinions expressed in each of these articles are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the college editorial board of this journal

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EFFECTS OF WORK PRESSURE ON AIRCREW

AlexanderIvonovich Porkyshkin

BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL

OMAN

EDITORIALHEAd SUPERvISION

Aqeed Rukn Jawi (ENG)

Hamed bin Abdullah Al Kalbani

Principal of the Air Force Technical College

EdITOR IN CHIEF

Mqm Rukn Jawi / Abdullah bin Saif Al-Saadi

dEPUTy EdITOR IN CHIEF

Rid Jawi / Abdullah bin Khamis Al Mahrooqi

ExECUTIvE EdITOR

Civilian Officer / Abudullah bin Awad Al Ghafri

COORdINATION & FOLLOW UP

Civilian Officer / Bader bin Soud Fadil Al Ghallabi

INTERNAL CORRESPONdENCE

Civilian Officer / Musabah bin Muheil Al Hatali

BOARd MEMBERS

Rqb 1 Jawi / Bader bin Said Al Harthy

TRANSLATION

Translation Department of Royal Air Force of Oman

PHOTOgRAPHS

AFTC Photo section

dESIgN ANd ART dIRECTION

The Emotional Intelligence and

Its Impact on Learning and

Leadership

Importance of English language for AFTC

Students

The Omani society is characterized by its authentic traditions

and values inherited over many successive generations.

These customs and traditions have significantly instilled

patriotism into the members of the society and acted as safeguards to

its standpoints and gains. The roots of the good citizenship go deep

into every inch of the soil of our beloved Oman.

Talking about the ethics is emotional. Ethics could mean «a set of

morals and values or rules considered correct among individuals

of the same profession.» Ethics is also defined as «a document

outlining moral and behavioral standards required to be adhered to

by the professionals of a certain professional association.” Ethics is

also known as «the statement of the ideal standards of a profession

adopted by a particular professional group or institution in order to

direct its members to accept their professional responsibilities.”

Work ethic is significantly enhancing the development of the institutions

and organizations which in turn enforces the values of the society and

produces a well educated generation able to take the helm of the

development and duly fulfill the desired goals.

Dedication to work is a key factor of the success at work that resulting

in job and social stability, as the staff collaborate with each other to

elevate their organization in light of the accelerating technological

advances.

The well-being of any nation comes through its ethics, and we as a

Muslim Arab nation are quoted as a shining example of morals. This is

because we are thankfully following the teachings of Islam enacted by

Allah to each person. Work is a sort of worship, so it should be carried

out properly, as the prophet Mohammed says: «Allah loves those who

do their work perfectly». Ethics is the cornerstone of the well-being

and progress of the society. Therefore, the nation that maintains its

principles and morals and raises its generations with virtue is a strong

prosperous nation, and the nation that relinquishes its morals and

principles is a weak and threatened with vanishing.

The wise leadership of HM the Supreme Commander of the Sultan’s

Armed Forces plays the greatest role in instilling and consolidating

the work ethic, which has made us a nation that the hat is taken off to.

Work ethics

Colonel Jawi /Hamed Bin Abdulah Bim Musabah Al Kalbani

Commander of the Air Technical College

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colleg

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graduates of the Technical Instructors Training Course

colleg

e new

s8th February 2012 Mqm Rukn Jawi/ Hamdan bin Suleiman Al-Fazari , Principal Asst. ( Vocational Training) presented certificates to graduates of the Technical instructors Training Course.

New batch of AFTC students graduated

28th February 2012

Under the auspices of Liwa Rukn Tay/ Matar bin Ali Al-Obidani, CRAFO, a new batch of AFTC students graduated. The celebration was attended by Aqeed Rukn Jawi/ Ali bin Khalid Al Abdulsalam, AFTC Principal, staff and a number of the graduates’ relatives.

Lecture on “ Road Traffic Saftey”

22nd February 2012

A delegation from ROP held a lecture on “ Road Traffic Saftey” attended by a number of officers and NCOs of AFTC.

AFTC held the annual Students Camp in the Combat Training camp in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar

10th March 2012

AFTC held the annual Students Camp in the Combat Training camp in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar from 10th – 13th March 2012.

A delegation from Libyan Army visited the AFTC

13th March 2012

A delegation from Libyan Army visited the AFTC in order to observe the educational and training resources at the college.

11th April 2012

A delegation from the Jordanian National Defense College visited AFTC and was briefed on the latest developments at the college. The delegation was received by Aqeed Rukn Jawi/ Ali bin Khalid Al Abdulsalam, AFTC Principal.

Jordanian National defense College visited AFTC

College News

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colleg

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sAFTC held a farewell ceremony ofa number of officers

زيارة الوفد الإيطايل

The final competitions of Ramadan Cultural Competition

graduates of Air Movement Course (Level 2)

13th June 2012

Mqm Rukn Jawi/ Abdullah bin saif Al-Sadi, OC Admin School, presented certificates to graduates of Air Movement Course (Level 2).

15th September 2012

Senior British Loan Officer visited AFTC to observe the available educational and training resources provided at the college. He was received by Ameed Rukn Jawi/ Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mamri ( CO RAFO Seeb) and Aqeed Rukn Jawi(Eng) / Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Kalbani ( AFTC Principal).

27th June 2012

Aqeed Rukn Jawi/ Yaqub bin Abdullah AL-Afifi , D Defence Studies Centre, presented certificates to the graduates of Admin Officers Course NO. 26 at AFTC Meeting Hall.

25th September 2012

Spanish Chief of Staff visited AFTC and was briefed on the latest developments at the college. The delegation was received by Ameed Rukn Tay/ Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mamri and Aqeed Rukn Jawi(Eng) / Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Kalbani, AFTC Principal.

18th december 2012

Italian delegation’s visited AFTC and was briefed on the latest developments at the college. The delegation was received by Ameed Rukn Tay/ Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mamri and Aqeed Rukn Jawi(Eng) / Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Kalbani, AFTC Principal.

17th October 2012

AFTC held a farewell ceremony of a number of officers under the auspices of Aqeed Rukn Jawi(Eng) / Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Kalbani, AFTC principal.

31st July 2012

Mqm Rukn Jawi/ Mohamed bin Said Al-Toqi (Principal Asst for Planning) presided the final competitions of Ramadan Cultural Competition at AFTC.

8th August 2012

Aqeed Rukn Jawi (Eng) / Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Kalbani (AFTC Principal) presented certificates to the graduates of the Basic Air Movement Training Course.

graduates of Admin Officers Course NO. 26

graduates of the Basic Air Movement Training Course

Senior British Loan Officer visited AFTC

Spanish Chief of Staff visited AFTC

College News

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Brigadier Eng. Mohammad bin Awad Al-Rawas, director general ofTraffic - Royal Oman Police

Interview

Interviewed by:Mqm Rukn Jawi / Abdullah bin Saif Al-SaadiRid Jawi / Abdullah bin Khamis Al Mahrooqi

The Principal and all academic and administrative staff of the AFTC as well as “AL KULIA” editing staff are really pleased to welcome Brigadier Eng. Mohammad bin Awad Al-Rawas, Director General of Traffic - Royal Oman Police as the guest of honour in this issue of “AL KULIA” magazine. If it pleased sir let us shed light on some of the recent traffic related developments and events being witnessed in Oman.• despite of the effort being exerted to reduce road

traffic accidents, statistics indicate a significant increase in the accidents. What are the reasons in your opinion? And is there any effective solution, and what is your satisfaction with the effort, policies and strategies applied to reduce the traffic accidents?

Road accidents and their adverse effects are concerning all societies in the developed and developing countries alike. They are, unfortunately, on a constant rise as they kill more than (1.3) million and injure (50) million a year. The material losses constitute a significant burden on the budgets of most countries which makes it a global problem acquires the attention of the politicians and the agents concerned with the traffic safety.The problem of reducing traffic accidents lies in the direct and indirect causes emerging from many factors related to the civil and economic development. In addition, the severity of this problem varies from one society to another due to the different nature of each society in terms of cultural and material standards as well as the style of the social life and the demographic distribution of the population and the geography of the country…etc. Therefore, to ensure the safety on the road and reduce

the number of incidents requires a package of measures that need the cooperation of all concerned parties and the drivers themselves. The reduction and prevention of accidents requires good roads and an appropriate traffic environment as well as certain safety requirements in the vehicle and good health services. In addition, the society should be aware of the dangers of the accidents and how to avoid them. besides, appropriate laws and measures that monitor and punish the violators of the traffic regulations and rules.

Although the elements of the solution vary in terms of the types and details and implementing authority, they are linked to each other in a way that you cannot take advantage of them if one element is neglected or missing. For effective results cooperation and joint action is required from all segments of the society side by side with the urban and economic planning authorities, police, jurisdiction, health and other stakeholders.This great work is usually done through long/short term planning with specified goals and accurate timeframe including raising the awareness and controlling traffic. Therefore, the National Committee for Road Safety is implementing the national traffic safety strategy for the years 2011-2020, in participation with all parties concerned to minimize traffic accidents in line with legislations in force and international standards, and provide the required medical care on roads and post-injury treatment.The personal care of HM and the Omani government towards the global and national traffic safety, and the efforts exerted by the National Committee for Road Safety is an indication that the process of minimizing the accidents and preventing injuries is on the right track.

• What are the actual causes of RTAs in Oman? How can you analyze these causes? And where dose the human error stand in comparison with the vehicle defects and road environment?

RTA is not a coincidence, but in many cases, it simply happens because of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and this is unfortunately due to the fault of the person behind the wheel. The statistics show that most of the accidents are due to the human errors, and in Oman the statistics indicate that (96%) of accidents are due to the fault of the drivers, over speeding, carelessness, overtaking, using mobile phones while driving and lack of experience. The same statistics show that less than (4%) of accidents are due to the vehicle defects and the road environment.The analysis of the past five years illustrates that over speeding is behind more than (55%) of the accidents, negligence (19%), using the mobile phone while driving (13%), unsafe following distance (4%), wrong overtaking (3%), and driving under the influence of alcohol less than (2%). The same statistics show that over speeding causes (43%) of the total injuries and (59%) of the total deaths. However, the statistics of 2011, show that more than (71%) of the deaths in 2012 were due to the over speeding and wrong overtaking.It is worth mentioning that over speeding is usually a bad behavior of some road users who take over speeding as a hobby and joy. Others tend to over speed while commuting from one area to another who usually have to use certain roads with heavy traffic and close to the populated areas. Given the fact above, over speeding could cause serious accidents particularly when using mobile phones while driving. Unfortunately, more than (65%) of the deaths in Oman occurs on the main roads.• What are the future plans of the Royal Oman Police to

minimize the traffic accidents and achieve the traffic safety?

Minimizing the number of traffic accidents requires providing good network of roads and vehicles with high quality safety specifications, enlightening the community about the dangers of the accidents and the ways of preventing them not to mention formulating rules and regulations to monitor traffic offenders and other road users. There is no doubt that changing human’s behavior is difficult so we do not expect considerable progress within short period of time since educational effects occur in the long term. ROP believes that raising awareness is a continuous work that is not restricted to one time or place as long as there are new road users and modern systems that exist to keep pace with traffic requirements and complications.

Accidents usually occur as a result of the ignorance of traffic rules and regulations or the violations of such rules through unsafe human practices that may vary according to their age and social or educational level. Such practices and behaviors correction can be made by traffic rules enlightenment including lectures, seminars, media and social networking websites. Road Safety Institute plays a major role in training and qualifying many road users to improve their driving skills as to use roads safely and correctly. In this stage it concentrates on utility drivers including taxi, driving training vehicle, truck and bus drivers since they use roads more frequently than others. Then we will go to the next step which is qualifying drivers who tend to violate traffic rules regularly.

ROP efforts to achieve road safety are not limited to the national level but we participate at Traffic Week activities at GCC and Arab countries and other international events, conferences and siminars related to traffic safety. Besides we

locate the places where most accidents occur in order to deal with them in coordination with bodies concerned.

ROP has equipped traffic section with many military and civil patrols, motorcycles and forklift to impose traffic control in roads all over the Sultanate. Additionally, we are going to spread many fixed speed cameras to cover all two-lane roads, mobile devices for on the spot control of speed limit violators as well as the devices to monitor traffic lights violators. These procedures aim to monitor speed limit violators since HQ Royal Oman Police give considerable attention to monitoring and controlling careless drivers considering that high speed and carelessness are the main causes of deaths and casualties. Many ROP service centers are to be provided so they will be within the reach for service users. These centers include vehicle check centers that can make vehicles safer. In addition, ROP spares no effort to keep pace with road safety requirements and developments through the amendment of systems and procedures including the necessary amendments of traffic executive regulations. A review was conducted regarding some low fines which are inappropriate for such dangerous practices. National Committee for Road Safety has approved the new fines some of which are being applied and the other are processing by the bodies concerned. These fines will be a deterring factor that can make roads safer.

• What are the facts for Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) for Oman in comparison to other countries in the world?

It is well known that Oman tops the countries internationally concerned with Road Traffic Accidents. The Royal directives of HM the Sultan in October 2009 at Seih Al-Makaraim during the Royal Tour came to emphasize the importance of cooperation between all sectors and indeed all categories of the Omani community to prevent road

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traffic accidents. In 2003, he Sultanate presented an initiative to the UN discussing the issue of Road traffic accidents which brought Oman to light in this regard. However, due to the transparency we adopt in announcing the RTA statistics along with the growing attention given to the matter, people misleadingly got under the impression that the situation in Oman is much far worse than it looks. This false image was unfortunately spread by media while , in fact, reports by international organizations such as The WHO reports in 2009 and 2010 for the Middle East region ranks the Sultanate fourth among for GCC countries and fifty-seventh internationally in regard of deaths per 100000 of population. We strictly commit to announcing deaths and casualties statistics with maximum transparency. Some countries release figures of casualties who only die on-the-spot or within a day, a week or even a month unlike here in Oman where we follow RTA cases even after long periods of time post the accident and include them in our statistics. Last year (2012), (1139) deaths and (11618) injuries were reported.The increase in deaths and casualties due to RTA show unacceptable rates to the Royal Oman Police and even Omani citizens. Still, we always hope to the better and work hard to learn from countries with greater experience in this field. We are optimistic that there is always a light on the end of this dark tunnel but we cannot reach it without cooperation from all categories of society and their devotion to road safety. In fact, we witnessed this year a decrease in number of deaths to be less than 8 % compared to 28 % for the last year as a result of more strict penalties to drivers who repeatedly commit offences and deployment of more speed cameras to control speeding drivers in our streets. This came in parallel with providing better medical services and emergency vehicles and ambulances hand in hand with intensive educational lectures and activities to increase drivers’ awareness of road safety.• What are the roles of the Road safety Institute?The Institute is a great addition to the efforts made by ROP to prevent RTAs. The real operation of the institute started in 2006 by conducting a variety of training courses, hosting and organizing conferences and symposiums and

accommodating visits related to road safety. The institute accommodated more than 14000 visits by the end of 2012.The institute offers training and qualification courses in Road safety for traffic officers and road users in general. These courses discuss traffic laws and defensive diving methods and target also utility drivers, public transport and truck drivers. Those who repeatedly commit offences and accidents undergo special qualification courses. Also, driving instructor can enroll in specialized training courses to enhance their awareness of road safety.The training syllabuses compris a number of guidebooks in fields of driving fundamentals, defensive driving, instructors skills, heavy vehicle driving, utility vehicle driving and repeatedly traffic offenders. On 18th October 2010, three big buses equipped with highly technical gadgets including displays to present educational materials were introduced. These buses visit different areas all over the sultanate and target all categories of the society especially school students to educate them about road safety.• It has been noticed lately that the intense of road

patrols in the streets has increased, does that indicate a new approach to increase traffic control? Is there any future plan to reinforce penalties for traffic offenders?

This increase in traffic patrols comes within the traffic control plan that is part of the National Road Safety Strategy ( 2011 – 2020) following the recommendations of road safety symposium in regard of traffic control enforcement. Therefore, more patrols, motorcycles , civilian patrols and winche will be increased on the roads. The first batch has been already deployed in major roads all over the country and training programs for the staff in these patrol is undergoing. We hope that by the end of this year the full deployment will be achieved. Such reinforcement is predicted to control offensive drivers. On the other hand, Speed cameras has proven efficiency internationally in traffic control support. Hence, we plan to deploy a large number of modern fixed and portable speed cameras in all major roads along with and traffic light monitoring cameras for all locations of traffic lights.

Penalties for a number of serious offences such as using mobile phones while driving, offensive driving, driving while exhausted or distracted has been strengthened. Still, we should always bear in mind that driving is a behavioral act that require more change of attitudes via educational sessions rather by strict laws and punishments. We hope the road safety competition will drew more attention to the issue of RTAs and help change traffic offenders behavior and way of driving.

• Using mobile phones and sending text messages are the main causes of road accidents not only in the Sultanate but also all around the world. what are your views concerning this practice and what are the methods to prevent it?

Using mobile phones and sending text messages while driving are a serious phenomena in modern societies since it causes many deaths, injuries and considerable financial damages. It is strange that a driver cannot resist replying or sending text messages while driving which endanger his life and others lives. There are many vehicles turn away and crashed in unexpected locations resulting in catastrophic consequences. Moreover, many crash accidents happened as a result of using mobile phones and thus losing concentration on driving. Is using mobile phones especially for reading and writing text messages necessary enough so that the one creates the risk of losing his life? Holding mobile phones, reading and writing text messages cause the driver to lose control of his vehicle and distract his attention. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that studies showed that the possibility of car accident considerably rises given that the driver cannot control his car speed, stay in one track or keep safety distance. In such cases driver also loses attention on what is going on the road and his response to road surprises becomes less or absent.

We always repeat that drivers must not use mobile phones since one’s life is more important than reading a text message. In case of emergencies the driver can stop his car in a safe location and use the phone. Drivers watchword must be (no calls nor text messages while driving). We pray to Allah to protect everyone from road dangers.

• This year the Sultanate witnessed many truck accidents that resulted in many deaths, are there any procedures that will be conducted by police to reduce them?

The increase in the number of trucks in the Sultanate is a logic result of the constructional and economical development however, ROP has invested a great deal of effort in coordination with the concerned bodies to create safe environment for these trucks for the public and road users interest. There are certain periods (peak periods) and locations these trucks are permitted from using roads and in case of any violation the Directorate General of Traffic deals with it through traffic patrols. Such trucks as oil and gas trucks can use road during peak periods since they are required all day. Ministry of Transport and Communications is studying public demands to prevent trucks from using roads during peak periods in some governorates as well as private sector demands to stop such procedure since it can affect economic growth. In the future, we plan to put some signs that prohibit trucks from

overtaking other vehicles in some roads. There is a cooperation and joint work with Ministry of Manpower to train all Omani truck drivers and in fact 400 drivers were enrolled in heavy vehicle precautionary driving program at Road Safety Institute. Additionally, traffic rules enlightenment was provided for private sector drivers. We are studying the idea of using tracking device in the vehicle owned by companies having lots of vehicles to control driver behavior. There is also a coordination with Ministry of Transport and Communication to control heavy load vehicles that hinder traffic by using mobile scales which can effectively reduce dangerous practices. It is worth mentioning that despite the increase in truck number, the number of accidents involving trucks decreased in 2012 comparing with 2011. In 2011 there were 508 injuries and 59 deaths. On the other hand in 2012 there were 503 injuries and 43 deaths which can be justified by the measures taken by DG of Traffic to minimize the effects and the risks of trucks on the society.

• Do you think that increasing traffic enlightenment through the media will satisfy current needs?

Traffic enlightenment is a continuous and important job for everybody as long as there is a vehicle and road user. The contact between road users and DG of Traffic is necessary to reduce road accidents and consequentially decrease deaths and injuries. If traffic enlightenment is provided for road user they will be aware of the necessity of abiding road safety rules and using roads safely. We believe in the importance of cooperation and joint work. Everyone has to know traffic rules and encourage others to abide by them and cooperate with bodies concerned to enlighten the society.

ROP is making every effort to enlighten the whole society about traffic rules through media or the immediate contact via lectures, seminars, workshops,

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brochures and ROP website. Road safety is a joint responsibility and everyone has to play his role to reduce road accidents. Drivers assume the huge responsibility of road safety since they are the cause of most of traffic accidents.

We think that road traffic enlightenment must be continuous so the media must focus on this matter although we know that Omanis are very aware of traffic rules which can be obvious to visitors and residents. This can be shown through the successfulness of minor road traffic accident procedures so of the parties involved in such accidents determine the culpable party without ROP interference and head to insurance companies. We extend our thanks and appreciation to them as they prevent the occurrence of other accidents.

• What is your advice to magazine readers?

I would like to remind them that most of the deaths happen due to high speed, rashness and the use of mobile phones. Careful driver who abides by traffic rules can control his vehicle and avoid accidents. In contrast, the driver who does not abide by rules and behave rashly may lose control of his vehicle. We always emphasize the importance of abiding by traffic rules and respecting others rights. Furthermore, I would like to highlight the risks of using mobile phones while driving and assure that our lives are more important than writing or reading a text message or receiving a phone call. Youth in particular are required to drive safely because driving rashly with high speed causes injuries as well as financial damages. We must think wisely and learn from the lessons of traffic accidents and their grievous consequences. Finally I would like to extend my thanks to the magazine’s editorial staff and pray to Allah to protect everyone from road traffic accidents and protect our country under the command of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

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In the previous edition of this magazine, Mqm Hamdan Al Fazari provided a superb overview of the subject ‘Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance’. In this particular article, we will expand on the issue further and look specifically at the impact and effects of human mistakes in aviation engineering and inspection. This is a serious topic that we must all be aware of; indeed, given the complexity of the aircraft system that our technicians work on today in RAFO, the effect of a simple human error can be catastrophic both in terms of risk to life and cost. The aim of the article is to highlight some of the concerns that have been highlighted in recent research and suggest how we, as servants of RAFO, can work together to reduce the risk of human error occurring in tasks that we ourselves are working on.

The Effect of HumanMistakes in Aviation Maintenance

Raaid Jawwi Mark McCoy

As Weigman highlights, due to the very nature of us being human, we must accept that mistakes and errors in judgement will occur. This is completely understandable and although we can try our hardest to reduce the opportunity for mistakes to occur, we should always remain aware that despite our best effort, we do occasionally get things wrong. But, as I have already stated above, given the environment in which we work, when dealing with armed state-of-the-art complex aircraft systems, a simple human error made during maintenance or inspection can have unimaginable consequences. This is why we all have a role to play in minimizing the opportunity for mistakes to happen.In a recent study published by a world-leading Aviation Research and Development Centre in Canada, an assessment was made of 120 separate aviation accidents (some of which resulted in the loss of life). Worryingly, almost 70% of these accidents were blamed on human error during maintenance or inspection. After investigating each case that was caused by human error, the research summarised the following faults:Incomplete installation (33% of cases)Damaged on installation (14.5%)Improper installation (11%)Equipment not installed or missing (11%)Foreign object damage (6.5%)Improper fault isolation, inspection (6%)Equipment not activated or deactivated (4%)On further investigation, the study concluded that the root-cause of the errors could be linked to one or more of the following failings:Complex maintenance related tasks (lack of training)Time pressure for delivering the aircraftFatigue of the maintenance personnelMaintenance procedures not followed accordinglyUsage of out-dated maintenance manualsThe tragic conclusion to this study is that all of these errors (and their root-causes) could have been avoided! As maintainers – and, more importantly, as supervisors of junior maintainers - we must demand from ourselves the very highest of personal and professional standards towards the task that we are doing.

Anything less is simply not acceptable. I would encourage our students to take a moment to think about this; perhaps they will understand why AFTC teachers and technical instructors expect so much of them. Why is it so important to study hard and learn our Trades to become experts? Why is it so important to be disciplined and to follow RAFO procedures? Why should we always try to do our best? I’ll tell you why – because brave men and woman of RAFO climb into our aircraft either as aircrew or passengers (including family) and they all depend upon on you to have done your job properly – it’s an honour and a privilege to hold such responsibility and we must never forget the potential consequences of getting it wrong.

What happens when things do go wrong? Following any accident or incident involving RAFO aircraft, a thorough investigation into the event will commence at the earliest opportunity. The aim of this investigation is to confirm exactly what happened, how it happened, why it happened and most important, what we need to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. All actions leading up to the accident or the incident will be looked at in fine details and if human error is found to be the cause of the event, then the investigation report will also include details regarding who was responsible. Depending upon the findings and the seriousness of the event, those found responsible could also find themselves liable for punishment – we must all be aware of this.

So, to reduce the risk of the above happening, what can we do to reduce the opportunity for human error to occur?

Never attempt to carry out a task on an aircraft that you are not authorised to do.Keep your supervisor or your line-manager in the picture. Yes, get a job done correct as soon as you can, but don’t be pressured to rush a job.Check, check and check again that you have the right equipment, the correct parts and most up-to-date instructions.Be disciplined in your work - follow the procedure in the manual to the word.Finally – if you are unsure – never feel ashamed to ASK!!!!!

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Importance of English language for AFTC Students

CIVILIAN OFFICER/ Waleed Khalfan Al Busaidi

English has proved to be the first and most dominant language spoken worldwide. Most countries and nations around the globe have been exerting so much effort in providing learning facilities and encouraging learners to study this language either locally or abroad. One might ask the question: why all this focus on English? The answer can be simply, because English is the global language of academics, businesses, sciences, medicine and all the other vital educational and vocational disciplines. English is indisputably considered to be the primary language used in the digital age being the language of technology, websites and networks. Hence, all your career and profession future may greatly rely on your success in the acquisition of English Language.

Likewise, students joining AFTC should have the same concerns towards the need of learning and studying English. All specializations and disciplines in AFTC are taught in English making it so significant for all learners to possess special interest in improving their English. Unfortunately, some learners

may not realize this fact from the beginning so they end in jeopardizing the future of their careers. Therefore, all students have to peer in mind that learning English is an accumulative process in which all its improvement and development depend on the success of each and every single stage.

Not only the AFTC students need to improve their general skills in English, they will absolutely need to be prepared for ESP perspectives. ESP simply stands for English for Specific or Special Purposes. Consequently, students who enroll in AFTC should consider the significance of this area in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). Because of the need of various qualifications in different vocational and academic disciplines, ESP has become one of the most prominent areas of studying and learning English in the globe since the early 1960s. There have been many different definitions for ESP which all stress and suggest meeting the desired learners’ needs. Thus, ESP can be defined as “a branch of language education that studies and teaches subsets of English to asset learners in successfully

carrying out specific tasks for specific purposes”. ESP is generally designed for intermediate and advanced learners to meet their needs in their special disciplines and specializations. It can have its special and different methodology and approaches in which learners’ needs analysis can determine its syllabi. Therefore, the foundation programs that AFTC learners start with equip them with all the necessary skills and knowledge which will enhance their readiness and potential for their future specializations and careers. The following are examples of these study and academic skills:

1. Researching skills: these skills include using the library and its sources to find relevant information for their studies and reports.

2. Developing arguments: students need to possess the skills of stating their opinions either in open or controlled conversations and presentations.

3. Writing skills: such skills are very important for the students to enable them to produce more professional

and organized compositions. 4. Listening and taking notes skills: these skills enhance

learners’ comprehension in recognizing lecture structure and obtaining all the specific and selected information from speakers.

5. Reading skills: all relevant skills such as skimming, scanning and understating texts structure prepare the students to be more independent learners who can expand their knowledge outside the class room.

Thus, learners who have enrolled in or wishing to join AFTC should fully realize the fact that English Language is a very vital element for the success of their future careers. They need to exploit their utmost energies and willingness to learn and improve this language from their surrounding environment. As a member of the English Department, I can confidently and proudly say that learners of AFTC have all the opportunities and facilities here to improve and practice English before joining their trades.

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Caves In Oman

Civ Off/ Hilal bin Zaher Al-Sabqi

Caves In Oman

Oman enjoys distinguished geological features from other countries in the region. One of which are caves

that are scattered all over the country from Al-Sharqyah region to Dhofar. This report sheds lights on the

most famous caves in Oman.

What are caves?

A cave or cavern is a natural underground space with a radius from 5 – 15 millimeters and can be large

enough for a human to enter. They are sculptures made by nature including carbon crystal, limestone or

crystal shapes. Caves are formed by various geologic processes that involve a combination of chemical

processes, erosion from water, tectonic forces, pressure, atmospheric influences, and microorganisms.

There are different types of caves such as: sea caves along the coastal areas, ice caves that result from ice

melting, solutional caves formed by soluble rocks exposed to oxides or acids including organic acids. The

latter is widely spread in Oman.

Most famous caves in oman

Majlis Al-Jin cave

Located at the foothills of the eastern Al Hajar Mountains, Majlis Al-Jin Cave is one of largest and most

beautiful caves in Oman and in the world. The cave is near Finse Village in Ibra on the way leading to

Dhabab village in Sur. The cave is so huge jumbo jets could fit across its floor, and you could stack four

jets on top of each other at its tallest point. It can accommodate five hotels sizing like Al-Bustan hotel

inside. The length of Majlis Al Jinn Cave is 310 meters and its width is 225 meters. The opening of the cave

extends to a depth of 120 meters. The cave was discovered in 1985 and comprises three entrance holes

on the top that can be accessed using ropes.

Al-Hoota Cave

Al-Hoota Cave in the southern part of Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain) near Wilayat Al Hamra in Al-

Dakhiliyah Governorate. The Cave was discovered by local residents hundreds of years ago, and its name

derives from the village where it is located. It extends for 5 kilometers underground, but it may only be

accessed for a distance of 860 meters, ending at Cave Lake. This cave has two holes through which water

cascading from the mountain top enters via the (Al Hoota) hole, and exits through the other (Al Falaah)

hole after passing through the connected cave passageways.

Cave lake

Al Hoota Cave Lake is located at the end of a footpath. It is 20 meters deep, but there are many parts

whose depth surpasses that. The lake contains several species of blind fish: some are without eyes

but have long bristles to sense their food. Also living in the lake is a rare type of blind fish, coloured a

translucent pink so that you can see the skeleton of these small fish.

Other Caves in Oman

There is a number of other caves in Oman such as: Maqakl Cave in Al-Sharqyiah region, Sahoor and Tawi

Atair ( Well of Birds) Cave in Dhofar, Taiq and Marnif caves in AL-Maghsail and Jarnan Cave in Izki.

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Engineering Hand Skills

Trainer

Civ Off Andy Pentelbury

The General Hand Skills Trainer, better known as the Genskill Trainer, is designed to simulate a typical aircraft structure whereby the student can practice his hand skills without fear of damaging a serviceable aircraft.This system allows the student to carry out detailed work and servicings in accordance with an Instruction Manual to train and prepare him for when he is posted out to the squadron after his technical training at the college.Typical tasks include Removal and Installation of easily recognizable aircraft components, control rod adjustments and rigging, complete with the correct locking mechanisms such as spring washers, stiff nuts, wire lockings and split pins.For complete realism, each Genskill Trainer is serialized and treated as an aircraft with its own RAFO form Eng 39. All tasks are recorded on official job cards and a running log of “Time on the job” is recorded as the Genskill “Flying hours”.Each student signs for a toolbox against the Genskill serial number and is equipped with the standard tools used at operational squadrons and the student must follow all Safety Precautions and procedures as laid down in RAFO Engineering Orders.The trainers are shaped to represent the curved skin of an aircraft fuselage in

which inspection panels are provided and secured by various types of fasteners, giving access to the internal components. Each workstation has a separate hinged cover which, when opened, allows the Instructor to fully inspect the work carried out and debrief the student.AFTC has acquired 24 Genskill Trainers divided between the Mechanical and Avionic trades complete with Instruction Manuals. This allows the student to follow proper Maintenance Procedures and Check Lists to complete the task as though he was working on an actual aircraft.This type of “hands on” training greatly enhances the quality of student that graduates from AFTC to provide RAFO with skilled tradesmen to enter the Engineering field.

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Civilian Mohamed bin Abdullah Al-Mujaini

Nanotechnology

IntroductionThe significant development in science has lead to dramatic upturn in many fields so with the new techniques many methods including nanotechnology were applied to serve humans.Nanotechnology is a future technology that will make things lighter, stronger, cleaner, cost effective and more accurate.Have you ever imagined that you can use batteries for a year without them runing out or that your phone screen will never be broken or scratched. Nanoscale is one billion in a single meter which means that if we divide one meter into thousand segments we will get millimeter which can be divided into thousand segments to get micrometer which in turn may be divided into thousand segments to get nanometer. A single human hair diameter is 80 thousand times bigger than Nano’s in size.Great Scientific revolutionThe world has witnesed agreat scientific revolution that is equal to the industrial revolution that lead to machine, industry era or technology revolution that lead to space era. This revolution is the nanotechnology which is based on using molecules in the production of all materials with high, unique and distinct quality and low costs that may sometimes reach one tenth of their actual costs. This technology will make essential development in all science, engineering, modern medicine, international economy branches as well as international relationships and even the daily life of a normal person. It simply can help us produce anything we imagine through the process of organizing material molecules besides each other in an unimaginable and cost effective way.Let us take an example to clarify the matter: if we use the nanotechnology to produce Boeing 747 which weighs approximately 400 tons we can reduce its weight by to 100 tons with one tenth of its actual cost.

Nano-Based IndustriesNano technology has been already utilized in some industrial sectors such as cosmetics, especially sun creams using the reflective composition of Nano particles that help to protect against harmful rays and keep the cream itself transparent and colorless. The technology is also used in manufacturing anti-spotting clothes.

In Russia, scientists managed to invent a material twiceas harder as steel and four times lighter using Nano while researchers in Hong Yang University, Seoul introduced Nano particles of silver to antibiotic production .It is worth noting that a single particle of silver can kill 650 viruses without harming the human body.HP computer company is excepted to launch a revolutionary computer chip based on Nano technologies through combining two elements with a 3D crystal resulting in a break-thorough invention of NANO light producing Magnesium and Iron Oxidize covered with Solenoid lead. This new combination is promising in the field of lights production and battery and energy industry.Last year , the famous Food Company, Kraft, established a section for the researches on inventing “programmed” drinks, which means that in the future we might be able to buy a colorless, tasteless drink and heat it using the microwave on certain frequencies each specified for a particular flavoar, orange, apple, lemonade..etc.In Egypt, scientists produced paper through Nano technology using remains of sugar cane and rice leaves. The produced paper was of better quality than regular paper. Also, Egyptian physician Dr. Mustafa Al-Said announced that cancer can be treated via Nano technology using gold particles.Saudi and Egyptian scientists managed to invent water desalination units working on NANO technology costing only 10% of current process cost with double fresh water production.

Fear of NanoAs any new invention appears, fears are always associated with it. It is human nature. As for Nano technology, there are two main concerns:First: Nano particles are extremely micro so it might overcome the immunity system of the human body, penetrate skin and lung tissue or even reach the blood stream to the brain.Second: Nano particles are like self-growing robots so, they might increase in numbers very fast and could even dominate life on earth.Despite these concerns, international organizations such as the Green peace declared that they will not stand against the development of Nano technology in the world.

ConclusionSpecialists agree that NANO technology will change the face of the earth and will have impact on all fields of modern life: medicine, industry, economy , international relationships and even day-to-day life of ordinary people. You could imagine super computers in the size of a pen-head or a button or a micro-robot that can be injected in the human body and target viruses and help cure disease. This technology simply has no limits but one, our imagination.

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Health between Exercise & Nutrition

It goes without saying that exercising and good health always coincide. Exercise is our weapon against common disease such as flu and colds and even other more serious diseases. Recent studies have proven that exercising helps to maintain a positive psychological state due to the Hormone of endorphin produced after physical effort that leads to a sense of relaxation and relief from stress and anxiety. Exercises also enforces blood circulation in the body causing adequate blood to reach the brain.

Health between Food and Exercise Health – as defined by the World Health organization - is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Normal body weight is necessary as it indicates that the body is consuming the food we eat. Obesity and thinness both are associated with medical symptoms causing deterioration of health. Obesity can cause the following diseases:- Rheumatism. - Spine pain.- Heart and vein disease and high blood pressure.DiabetesGallbladder infection and gallstones.Liver dysfunctions. Gout. Digestion disorder.

In addition to the above diseases, obesity leads to laziness, mental distraction, lack of energy, fatigue, shortness in breathing and a number of social and psychological issues. On the other hand, thinness also can negatively affect the immunity system and cause lack of focus.

Diet tipsPrior to any diet system, the following simple steps should be followed in order to adopt a healthy and well balanced nutrition diet.Meat Only 100 gm of meat are allowed per day.Smoked and salted meat, cooked sausage, brain , liver and kidneys are not allowed.FishNo more than 200 gm of fish per day is allowed.Smoked, salted fish are not allowed along with fish eggs.DairyFat-free dairy products are allowed. Fruit and vegetablesAll kinds of vegetables are allowed but should be cooked with no fat. Fruit should not exceed 5 pieces per day.Exercises: a weapon against diseasesStudies and researches confirm that exercising contributes directly to the

Mqm (Doctor) Nasser bin Ali Al-Yahyai

improvement of physical and psychological state of the human body. Sports , especially those that require the large muscles placed in the shoulders, legs, stomach and back, strengthen the heart muscle. This , consequently, leads to improving the efficiency of respiratory system and regulate heart beats not to mention effects on bones. Exercise can effect health in many ways which can be summarized as follows:Enhance blood circulation.Weight control.Eliminating excessive fat in the body.Strengthen muscles.Achieve maximum utilization of nourishment.Fight some diseases.Strengthen bones and teethReduce psychological depression.Reduce constipation.Improve appetite.Types of exercisesThere are two types of exercises that one can practice: Aerobics, which helps improving blood circulation and require more oxygen in the lungs and Anaerobic, which is mainly concerned with body and muscle building.Pre-exercise tipsIn order to prevent injuries while exercising, the following precaution should be followed:Choose the appropriate type of exercises.Increase the time you spend exercising gradually with caution.Start with warm-up exercises for adequate period of time.Eat healthy food and drink plenty of fluids as lack to vitamins and minerals can lead to dehydration.In case of any pain during exercising, take one or two days of rest. If pain persists, consult a physician.Wear comfortable shoes.Do not start body building exercise without consulting a specialized trainer. Any inappropriate exercises can harm the muscles.Exercising an hour a day by walking, jogging or even body building and adopting a healthy diet that is based on reducing fat and sugar along with eating fruit and vegetables, help us to live healthily for the years of our life.

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EFFECTS OF WORK PRESSURE ON AIRCREW

Wk/1 JawiTalib bin Saeed bin Khalfan Al-Rahbi

Studies on work pressure effects on aviation showed that a short accidental nap taken by any exhausted aircrew member or flight instructor can seriously lead to flight incidents. That scenario occurred during a domestic flight in Hawaii, USA and to the North-West American Airliner.In 1989, NASA examined this issue and came up with a simple solution: a nap for aircrew during a long distance flight can help them to be more alert and focused especially during take-off and landing of the aircraft. Federal Aviation Association regulations stipulate that back-up aircrew members should be provided for long distance flights (more than 40 minutes flights) as applied today in large aircraft such as Airbus A340 – 500 and Boeing 777- 200 LR.CausesJETLAG effects caused by exhaustion, anxiety, stress, high humidity, shortage in Oxygen and turbulences in long flights.Career pressures, family issues and emotional effects that face aircrew in their daily life.EffectsFirst: Health and psychological effectsThese include the stress and exhaustion effects on liver, lung,

digestive system and the immunity system. It also comprises the increase of heart attacks possibility by 23% as indicated by Routers and Peter Wiseburge , British Heart Foundation Manager.On the psychological side, aircrew might be exposed to anxiety, stress and “spatial disorientation” where they see illusions of them being outside the aircraft.Second: Behavioral EffectsPressure at work may lead to aggressive behavior, tendency to avoid attending to workplace not to mention changes in personal behavior such as diet, smoking or even addiction.SolutionsExercising to stay physically fit, following balanced diet and relaxation before and during flights.Considering aircraft that comply with international applied regulation for noise and turbulence resistance standards.Between-flight naps for aircrew and flight tasking officers.. Transparency between pilots ,aircrew and senior aviation officers in terms of his mood and psychological status in order to establish full awareness of any risks.Creating a healthy work environment for all aircrew members through fair working hours and flights with little consideration to cost in return.

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The term literacy leads us to ask about the meaning and types of culture. Therefore, what we focus on in the field of education is the scientific literacy, this term is attracting a lot of thinkers to write about it. It has been used

among the fields of education since the end of the 1950,s, and a lot of synonyms have been used to refer to it such as the scientific enlightenment. It is defined by Agin as the science that includes the knowledge for the

individual “citizen”. As indicated in PSIA test in 2033, the scientific literacy also implies the capacity to pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence and to apply conclusions from such arguments appropriately

in order to help the student to make the right decisions and determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences.

It is clear that the scientific literacy revolves around the knowledge, but it is still a way of thinking and interaction. The three dimensions of the scientific literacy are as set by Murcia; the nature of

science, the interaction of science with technology and society, and the recognition of significant scientific terms and concepts.

In a study carried out by Murcia to identify the proportion of every dimension of scientific literacy that show the personality and interests of each individual to work in a specific domain, and that every individual has different proportions of the dimensions of scientific literacy.

During the study, 244 students were tested in the scientific literacy, and the researcher compiled the students, responses using analytical induction into three or four categories: functional and conceptual and procedural and multi-dimensional. The researcher likens the brain with the three strings of the rope where the proportion of each string differs from the other. For example, the member of the parliament possesses a scientific literacy in all dimensions, but according to the requirements of the job and experience, as the development deeply happens in the dimension of science interaction with society and technology. Because of the nature of his work, the pharmacist deepens more in the dimension of scientific concepts; however, the teacher of science must contain all dimensions, and here this study asks a very important question, namely what proportions do we want the brain of the student to contain - particularly the brain of the Arab students - from these three dimensions of the scientific literacy?Generally, the National Research Council has advocated that the scientific literacy is for all and it should not be monopolized, it should include all members of the society, and here lies a difficult task. How can we, as educators, be able to provide fair opportunities for each student in the class? There is no problem if the proportions of the dimensions differ from one student to another. This prepares the students to have

interests in different functions, but the variation should not be very wide between the proportions of these dimensions, and should not neglect one dimension for the favour of

another so as not to cause a conceptual defect in the brain of the student. The scientific literacy of the secondary school student must be fairly addressed in all its dimensions in

order to have individuals useful to their country. For example: it is not feasible to focus on educating students scientifically in one or two dimensions only because it produces

individuals with similar interests, which leads to saturation in certain professions and neglect other occupations. This would force the government to bring labour force from other countries

to meet the shortage which deprives the citizens of employment opportunities. Therefore, the first goal of teaching the students and granting them the General Education Diploma is to prepare

them at a good level of scientific literacy that covers all of its dimensions.

The Dimensions of The Scientific Literacy in The Student,s BrainI was not surprised at the outcome of the conversation between me and the French boy of Arab origin who had just reached the age of maturity, but what surprised me more is the

dialectical and logical style in persuading others, which indicated his good education and enlightenment. Our conversation started with a question about the dialect he used with

his younger brother. I had to speak with him in English that I was in early stages of learning, and which I found very difficult to maintain its grammar. His reply triggered

my anxiety that his parents are of Arab origin, but he hates Arabs and Muslims. I asked him surprisingly what? Why?, but he was consciously aware and

convinced of what he was saying, and he went on supporting his argument with evidence at one time and logic at another until both of us got fed up and stopped arguing. However, my mind could not stop meditating upon that French boy even after he disappeared at the end of the corridor. In fact, there

is a great difference between him and the literacy of the Arab teenager who is used to indoctrination

rather than to thinking, and to feeding up rather than literacy.

Civ/Off: Abdullah Hamoud Al HAbsi

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Civilian officer: Said bin Mohammed Al.Badri

What is Creativity?Creativity is marked by the ability or power to create, to bring into existence, to invest with a new form, to produce through imaginative skill, to make or bring into existence something new. In other words, Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. It involves two processes: thinking, then producing.

Creativity in teaching and learning English in the AFTC classroomTeaching English in Oman is challenging as well as exciting. All institutions pay a lot of attention in improving the knowledge of English. Any teacher faces the tough problem of teaching the language in a creative and innovative method. Though many students are able to understand the language, most of the students face the problem of communicating their ideas effectively. The hitch is the lack of vocabulary. Writing is the biggest challenge for many learners. Hence, the responsibility of the English faculty is tremendous.

Traditional methodologies will not help a lot. Unless the teacher is able to create an interest in the minds of the learners, he can’t expect the desired results. “A good teacher teaches, a better teacher explains and the best teacher inspires.” If a teacher keeps on teaching, the classroom activities become passive and monotonous. So the teacher should try to float above the traditional methods of teaching and break the ice. The students here have the tendency to express their happiness or disappointment openly. Sometimes a teacher might get disappointed over the poor feedback he receives from the learners.I have seen teachers who feel helpless as they get poor results and responses. The main drawback is the lack of creativity. Creativity is not an object that can be bought. Creativity is the result of an individual’s hard work and enthusiasm to prove oneself. Creativity doesn’t have any limits. You will find the students responding to your calls positively.The great thing is that creativity in the teacher can inspire a responding creativity from the students. For example, the students should be taught new vocabulary. If you just ask them to read newspapers daily, few will respond to the suggestion. So the teacher must bring newspapers to the classroom and make the students sit in pairs. Each pair should go through any news item, which they find to be interesting. Ask them to go through the news item and discuss with the partner. They can refer the dictionary to find the meaning for new words. After sometime, you can invite them to come forward and present the news item to the class. One can share the news with the class and the other can explain the meaning of new words with the usage. The teacher can help the class understand the usage of words better. This practice helps the students speak and learn new words.In brief, students should be encouraged to seek out and experiment with new ideas. They should be taught to ask questions and investigate when things do not make sense. Students should also follow their interests and think “outside the box” whenever possible. It is also valuable for them to be open to others’ ideas so that they can learn how to build upon and reconstruct their own conceptual knowledge.

“Planting

The

Seeds”

Creativity

In the

AFTC

Classroom

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BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL

O M A N

The Sultanate of Oman is a country of great beauty, a land of deserts, rolling sands and shifting dunes, striking mountain ranges, oases, wadis, green valleys and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean that teem with every

kind of fish. This is a land that is the birthplace of Sindbad the Sailor, believed to be Sohar on the Batinah Coast, and the Lost City of Ubar buried for millennia under the Arabian Sands of Oman.

It is a country where deep in the mists of time ancient caravans began their journeys with exotic cargoes of Frankincense and Myrrh (Bakhoor and Lubaan), finely woven fabrics and silks and spices. Their destinations feature like a catalogue of the Classical Age, Babylon, Damascus, Carthage, Egypt, Greece and many more. There was not a palace in the ancient world where the sweet fragrance of frankincense would not assail your senses and this precious resin, harvested from trees in the Dhofar area of Oman, was worth more than it’s weight in gold. In fact Frankincense was found in the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who was buried three and a half thousand years ago in the Valley of the Kings in ancient city of Thebes, now Luxor, in Egypt. In the palace of Queen Hatshepsut, also in the Valley of Kings, murals on the wall depict the shipments of Frankincense from the Land of Punt, as Oman was then known, one hundred years before Tutankhamun. This documents the fact that Oman’s glorious history stretches back to the classical age where she was a major trading and business power in the ancient world and indeed well before.

Rory Patrick Allen

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Picturesque villages are to be found nestled in the mountains where people carry out their lives and traditions without incumbency from the roar and stress of the twenty first Century. The land is fertile, irrigated by underground water supplies that support a rich variety of produce. The people of Oman are warm and welcoming and are known for their hospitality throughout the world to both strangers and visitors alike.Muscat is the capital of Oman and said to be one of the most beautifully kept and clean capitals in the world. The roads and grass verges of Muscat are immaculate with potted flowers that line the borders as one travels along the highway to the old part of the city. His Majesty’s Palace setting is in an idyllic location, set in a small harbor surrounded by mountains. On top of the mountain, just adjacent to the palace, The Al-Jalali is a spectacular fort built on a rocky outcrop. At night it is lit up along and its sister fort on the Corniche, The Al- Mirani, is also illuminated which gives the old part of Muscat a magical quality... Muscat harbor, by the palace, belongs to the classical age. It is not difficult to imagine the sea-farers of Oman loading and unloading their precious cargoes in times gone by. Indeed the old port of Muscat was known to the ancient Greeks as the “Hidden Port”, as it is difficult to locate being couched in the Hajar Mountains.Old merchant tea houses are still to be found on the Muttrah Corniche that sweeps its way gracefully along the harbor while the Mountains of the Western Hajar hug the new port as a mother would her child. On the Corniche of Muttrah lies

the old Souq that traded during the times of the great Omani Empire and for many thousands of years before. Indeed Oman is the only gulf country to have ever had an Empire which stretched all down the East African coast and across the Indian Ocean, in previous centuries there are many records that document trade between Oman and China. Oman was once the leading sea faring and trading nation in the world.As you drive along the Corniche past the Muttrah Souq and the Palace of his Majesty you will enter the town of Sidab, a traditional fishing village where the citizens carry out their tasks in time honored fashion. Casting their nets into the sea to reap the harvest of these waters and consume them..As you drive past Sidab along the coast you will find pristine beaches dotted around in small coves along the Muscat coastline. The sand is as fine as powder and the sea a crystal turquoise blue where shoals of many fish can be seen swimming together. Coral reefs abound on the Muscat seas attracting magnificent species of fish and providing for unforgettable experiences for those who snorkel and those who dive. Sunset cruises are offered which will take you around Muscat harbor in a traditionally made Arabian Dhow. All along the harbor one will experience the magic of Sindbad and the ancient world of a sea-faring nation in a classical age surrounded by formidable mountains and forts that will simply take your breath away.

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okryshkin

vanovichlexander

AlexanderIvonovich Porkyshkin

Civilian Officer G-5Khalid bin Humaid Al Hinai

Al exander Was born on March 6,1913 in the city of Novonikolaevske (NOVOSIBIRSK) of the former Soviet Union . His dream was to became a pilot, but circumstances worked against him , and the death of his father forced him to look for a job as a construction worker to make a living for his family. He then worked as a craftsman metal in a local factory after entering a local technical college where he received a certificate in 18 months . Subsequently, he volunteered for the army and was

sent to an aviation school, his dream finally seemed to be coming true. Unfortunately the flight school was suddenly closed , and all students

were instead transferred to be trained as aircraft mechanics . The invented improvement he made to some type of machine gun

placed him as a senior aviation mechanic in 1935, he passed a civilian pilot training program in only 17 days, this made

him eligible for military flight school. He graduated in 1939 as Sir lieutenant and was appointed to the 55th fighter regiment.His first air combat was a disaster , seeing an aircraft in the air of a type he had never seen before, he attached and shot it down, only to notice as it was going down that it had soviet red stars on the wings, After participating in many combat sorties , Alexanader realized that the air tactics ,which is derived from the soviet doctrine , adopted by the soviet air force until 1941 for managing air battles, was unsuccessful

as being the cause for inflecting huge lose in lives and aircrafts. So he started to invent new tactics that proved to

be successful ,complaining about the order to fly in a three shape formation ,making combat maneuvering difficult . The

soviet changed the system by adopting two aircraft formation.He also realized that he had to utilize vertical combat while flying

the MiG against a Messerschmitt. The next thing was developing of the so called «formula of victory»: altitude-speed-maneuver-fire. That

means a fighter pilot should gain altitude ,then transform it into speed ,that speed into maneuver to get a good firing position.

The normal way was to fly a combat circle over the area for protection , Alexander used his basic physics knowledge about transforming potential energy into kinetic energy and vice versa .So they stopped flying circles over the area and flew instead like a bug pendulum over the area ,having either altitude or speed all the time .He was named a hero of the soviet union on three separate occasions. He was awarded four orders of Lenin, a number of other medals and foreign order. He wrote several books about flying and his wartime experience, most of which appear to be translated to other languages.He died on November 13,1985 at the age of 72 and buried the city of Novonikolaevske where a statue was set in honor of him.

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The scientists and researchers have proposed various definitions of «intelligence», but not precise and comprehensive definition is agreed on yet. We often hear about the Intelligence quotient (IQ) test, which is used to measure the intellectual ability of the individuals; i.e. genius, talented, average or mentally retarded. However, the recent studies and research confirmed that the (IQ) is inadequate and that there are different types of intelligence that should be addressed. The IQ test measures Rational intelligence, but this measurement does not include other types of intelligence such as linguistic intelligence, logical intelligence, conceptual intelligence, physical intelligence and self-intelligence and social intelligence determined by the American scientist Howard Gardner. This is known as the theory of multiple intelligence, which means that intelligence could include the general ability of the individuals to learn and gain tangible and abstract knowledge, information and concepts and use them to interact with the different environments in order to understand the correlations among things, and analyze these correlations so as to deal with them in a meaningful way.Each individual has to know himself and identify his feelings and be aware of what is happening around him, and he should have self-control in a way that enables him to interact with events or with others and adapt to them. This, in turn, confirms that it is essential to cover the emotional abilities of the individuals so as to understand their ability to respond and deal with the others and different situations as well as their ability to make right decisions. This means there is another type of intelligence where the individuals use their emotions and feelings to react or respond. It is referred to as the ‘emotional intelligence’, and it is defined

The Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Learning and Leadership

by Daniel Goleman in his book «Emotional Intelligence» as the ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others.

Emotion is closely linked to thinking as they work together and complement each other. Emotion is of great importance in learning and acquisition of science and knowledge and

other life skills as well as in dealing with others and influencing them, as Socrates says «any learning process is built on an emotion basis»

There is no thinking without emotion and there is no emotion without thinking. Therefore, the emotional intelligence is closely linked to the process of

training and education, for example, teaching and learning process – the teacher and the learner - the more the teacher is aware of himself and

understands the various educational situations and able to deal with them effectively and control this emotions and anger in a

positive way, the more he is able to form positive relationships with his students and realize their needs and learning

aptitude and be able to identify the best ways to deal with them and gain their trust and encourage them

and motivate them. On the other hand, the student aware of himself and his goals is

capable of forming positive relationships with his t e a c h e r and classmates and the environment around him, and he is more successful able to persevere and take responsibility.The emotional Intelligence also plays a prominent role in decision-making. This refutes the belief of many leaders and managers over time that there is no room for emotions in the decision-making process and their belief that it requires our minds and not our hearts. Now It can be said for sure that the decision- m a k i n g process requires the leader or manager t o understand the emotions, feelings and needs of others. It also requires the ability to influence them in a way he acquires their trust and support, and convinces them of his decisions and actions and enhances their loyalty to their duty and establishment.It is concluded that the emotional intelligence is a mix of skills and capabilities that can be acquired and developed by an individual and used to deal with different situations and the surrounding environment. The level of the development of the emotional intelligence is much wider than the rational intelligence which stops at a certain level where the individual cannot expand or develop. The different experiences and attempts of the individual to improve his understanding of the society and the people around him contribute effectively to the development of the emotional intelligence.

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Enhancing Quality at the Air Force Technical College In Collaboration with the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority

The Air Force Technical College (AFTC) recently welcomed the opportunity to join other colleges and universities in Oman in being audited by the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA). The OAAA is charged with assisting in the development of the Omani higher education sector through institutional and programme accreditation processes. The first step on this journey is Quality Audit. Continuous Self Improvement Since it was established in 1974 AFTC has taken quality seriously. The College already has a well developed framework of internal quality assurance, supported by a regular process of internal review, and a culture of continuous improvement. AFTC believes that the formal Audit Visit by the external OAAA Panel is simply the next logical stage of this quality journey. The College is privileged to be the first of the military colleges in Oman to go through this process.Themes, Teams and TasksThroughout 2012 AFTC worked on preparations for the OAAA Audit Visit and staff and students from all departments and at all levels within the College were actively involved. Eight major areas of activity were identified by the AFTC Audit Preparation Committee as being relevant to AFTC and underneath this over 63 sub-areas were chosen for investigation.

In order to make the process as inclusive and as valuable as possible, AFTC set up Task Based Teams, under Team Leaders and Theme Owners, to examine each topic. Most significantly, Teams also identified potential improvements in their area and reported these back to the College management. The Continuous Improvement Team at AFTC has helped capture and structure these improvements into a College-wide plan, encompassing over 27 improvements in key areas, and this will be rolled out in 2013. External Review and Recommendations AFTC is actively planning for the visit from the OAAA Audit Team in spring 2013. Six Audit Panel members will spend five days at the College, examining the practice outlined in the Self Assessment Document and undertaking structured and informal interviews with staff and students, military and civilian, Omani and expatriate. The OAAA Auditors will be seeking to offer helpful and constructive suggestions for further improvements to the College, based upon their visit and on their observations on AFTC’s own Self Assessment Document. The Air Force Technical College is looking forward to this next step on the quality journey.Fiona Wilson, External Advisor – AFTC Accreditation and Quality Audit Project

Fiona Mari Welson

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