SOME FACTS ABOUT FLYING

HAVE YOU EVER watched a balloon as it slowly meandered upward into the sky?

The balloon is able to fly because the air within it is lighter than the surrounding air—just set it free and it’s off.

Many people think quite differently about airplanes, however. Knowing that these machines are clearly heavier than air, they might wonder what exactly keeps an airplane in the sky. And they might fear that any airplane might just fall out of the sky. In fact, to some people, airplanes seem more at peace sitting on the ground than they do in the air.

Perhaps during a recent flight you found yourself worrying about some of the following:

  • A wing might fall off
  • One of the engines might stop
  • Turbulence might make the plane tip over and lose control
  • The plane might fall from the sky and crash

If so, this page will help you understand some basic principles of aircraft flight. You’ll learn that many fears are unfounded, and that some feared events not only are improbable but also are not as dangerous as might be believed.

Although aerodynamics is a very complicated topic, one simplistic statement sums up the basic principle of flight: An airplane stays up because its wings push the air down.[1] This is called “lift.” An airplane generates lift, however, only when it is moving. This is completely different than a lighter-than-air balloon. It’s also common sense, because we all know that parked airplanes—even taxiing airplanes—are not flying. An airplane flies only when it builds up enough speed in the take-off run. At take-off, the wings have sufficient airspeed to “push down” hard enough on the air to overcome the airplane’s weight.

But this is not the whole story.

It’s a common mistake to confuse an airplane’s ability to fly with the need for an engine to push or pull it through the air. Consider that gliders can stay aloft for hours riding rising air currents, but if a glider is towed aloft and finds the air not good for sailing, it turns around and glides back down to the airport. The principle here is this: Altitude can always be “traded in” for airspeed.

The same thing is true for regular airplanes. Even with all the engines stopped an airplane can glide back down. Of course, it won’t glide as well as a sailplane, and it can’t climb in an updraft, but it won’t fall like a rock either. Its altitude will be traded for airspeed, and the airspeed will generate enough lift to fly it back down to the ground for a safe landing.

You can also be rest assured that pilots are specifically trained to fly an airplane with any number of engines—including all of them—not working. (And on jets, if an engine catches fire, built-in fire extinguishers will put out the fire.) Getting back to the ground after an emergency might be scary, but you will likely survive.


Turning Flight
Many people become frightened when an airplane makes a steep turn. Usually, passenger aircraft keep their turns shallow for just this reason, but sometimes, especially on take off, noise abatement regulations require a sharp turn to avoid noise-sensitive areas on the ground.

In this regard, it’s important to know that an airplane does not turn with its rudder, like a boat in the water; it must bank its wings to turn. Aerodynamically, the wings must generate some extra lift to pull the plane around in the turn; this extra lift generates a considerable centrifugal force. Pilots often describe this as pulling +Gz. This force is measured in units of gravity, so a moderately steep 2G turn draws as much force as twice the pull of gravity. So you, as a passenger within the turning airplane, will feel pulled down into your seat as a result.

This is not a sign that the airplane is about to tip over, as some people fear. An airplane can bank as much as it wants. The airplane can actually fly quite well when it is upside down (although any cabin items and passengers that are not securely fastened down will have problems). In fact, aerobatic pilots have flown aerobatics just for fun—take great delight in flying upside down (inverted flight), on edge (knife-edge flight), and going all the way around (a roll).


Sounds of Flight

Many strange sounds that occur during the course of a flight can be disturbing if you do not know what causes them. The following are a few sounds you might try to recognize:

  • Just after take-off the landing gear will be retracted, causing a thumping sound.
  • You might also hear a whirring sound as a motor retracts the flaps and spoilers. (These are made to stick out of the back of the wings in order to add extra lift on take-off and to help slow the airplane on descent.)
  • You might hear the engines throttle back when leveling off for cruise.
  • You might hear whirring sounds as flaps and spoilers are extended for descent and landing.
  • Finally, before landing, you will hear thumping as the landing gear comes down.

After reading this article, hopefully you will enjoy your flight more and not worry about various noise and turns. If you still feel something is beyond your understanding ask your crew to explain.

FRONT OFFICE EXECUTIVE- JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

Accommodates guests of hotel by greeting, performing guest transactions, answering the telephone, operating necessary front office equipment, etc. to ensure high-quality guest relation.

Technical or Administrative Knowledge

  • Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
  • General knowledge of computers.
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Special Skills and/or Abilities

  • Excellent interpersonal communication and customer service skills.
  • Maintains professional appearance and demeanor at all times.

Job Description (continued) Essential Functions include but not limited to the following –

  • Greets, registers, and assigns rooms to guests.
  • Issues room key to guest.
  • Responsible for proper key control and other security measures.
  • Answers telephone in absence of telephone operator.
  • Transmits and receives telephone messages and sets up guests’ wake-up calls.
  • Date stamps, sorts, and racks incoming mail and messages.
  • Answers inquiries pertaining to hotel services, registration of guests, shopping, dining, entertainment, and travel directions.
  • Keep records of room availability and guests’ accounts. Operates the front office computer system. Makes photocopies if needed.
  • Computes bill, collects payment, and makes change for guests.
  • Makes and confirms reservations.
  • Posts charges such as room, food, liquor, or telephone, to guest folio.
  • Makes restaurant, transportation, or entertainment reservations for guests
  • Deposits guests’ valuables in hotel safe or safe deposit box.
  • Checks out guests and inquires about their stay.
  • Promotes and supports Brand Voice and Brand initiatives such as Priority Clubs and Associate Programs.
  • Actively builds awareness of the Brand to guests.
  • Provides and ensures high-quality guest relations. Receives and resolves guest complaints in a manner consistent with company policy. Makes Manager on Duty aware of any guest complaints.
  • Maintains the desired levels of quality assurance ratings, including guest comment cards, accounting audit and inspection scores.
  • Confers and cooperates with other departments as needed to ensure coordination of activities.
  • Works toward a 90% walk-in conversion rate goal.
  • Ensures Inn compliance of all company policies and procedures.
  • Adheres to all safety procedures and informs management of any unsafe conditions.
  • Attends meetings and training as requested.

Other duties may be assigned based on company needs.

GUEST RELATION OFFICER (HOTELS) – JOB DESCRIPTION

Front Office (Hotels)- Guest Relations Officer- Job Description

Key Responsibilities

  • Plan and coordinate the provision of friendly, efficient services to guests
  • Schedule activities for guests
  • Plan and coordinate all promotional activities targeting clients
  • Trace relevant statistics about clientele
  • Coordinate and supervise all activities for guests
  • Assist with check-ins / check-outs of clients
  • Greet Guests upon arrival
  • Assist guests with airline bookings and reconfirmation’s
  • Assist all departments in being receptive to the needs of guests
  • Assist staff with language and culture
  • Attend recreation activities when necessary
  • Plan and conduct group and function rundown meetings
  • Assist in any other duties when required by the Front Office Manager
  • Assist with translations (information: guest directory; menus etc.) as required
  • Provide feedback from Guests to Front Office Manager for action

Occupational Health and Safety Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate Awareness of policies and procedures and ensure all procedures are conducted safely and within the guidelines
  • Be aware of duty of care and adhere to occupational, health and safety legislation, policies and procedures
  • Be familiar with property safety, first aid and fire and emergency procedures and operate equipment safely and sensibly
  • Initiate action to correct a hazardous situation and notify supervisors of potential dangers
  • Log security incidents and accidents in accordance with hotel requirements

Key Competencies and tasks

Taking Responsibility

  • Strive for constant improvement and take responsibility for your own performance
  • Adhere to InterContinental Hotel Group Corporate Code of Conduct
  • Adhere to Hotel Handbook and general policies and procedures
  • Adhere to Front Office Policies and Procedures
  • Report problems to Management with suggestions for resolution

Understanding My Job

  • Clarifies own job responsibilities and looks for opportunities that will increase skills and job knowledge
  • Understands how their role fits with others and contributes to the success of business
  • Understands the hotel’s facilities, products and services
  • Provides information when requested and promotes hotel’s services, facilities and special events
  • Implements department procedures and policies as needed

Customer Focus

  • Build and maintain positive relationships with all internal customers and guests in order to anticipate their needs
  • Anticipate guest needs, handle guest requires, and solve problems
  • Create a positive hotel image in every interaction with internal and external customers
  • Adhere to hotel brand standards
  • Maintain a high level of product and service knowledge in order to explain and sell services and facilities to guests
  • Assist guests and escort them to locations within the hotel at their request
  • Maintain knowledge of special programs and events in the hotel in order to recognize and respond to guests

Teamwork

  • Demonstrate cooperation and trust with colleagues, supervisors, teams and across departments
  • Communicate well to ensure effective shift hand-overs
  • Actively participate in organized meetings
  • Interact with department and hotel staff in a professional and positive manner to foster good rapport, promote team spirit and ensure effective two way communication

Adaptability

  • Be open to new ideas and make changes in the job and routines as required
  • Work in line with business requirements
  • Complete tasks as directed by Management

Developing Self

  • Develop / update skills and knowledge (internally or externally) to reflect changed technology or changed work requirements
  • Seek feedback critical on areas of shortfall
  • Maximize opportunities for self development

Reliability

  • Ensure that your work quality meets the standards required and complete tasks in a timely and thorough manner with minimum supervision
  • Follow standards, policies and procedures
  • Meet hotel attendance and grooming standards

Cultural Awareness

  • Work effectively with customers and colleagues from different viewpoints, cultures and countries

INDIAN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

Tourism and Hospitality- India

India is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and tourist volumes have registered strong growth in the last five years. Tourist volumes are expected to grow at over 11% annually until 2015, with health and wellness tourism recording particularly strong growth due to the high healthcare costs in Western countries and the high-quality medical facilities offered in India.The Indian tourism sector has been experiencing a resilient phase of growth, driven by the flourishing middle class, increased spending by the foreign tourists, and synchronized administration and promotions by the Government of India to encourage ‘Incredible India’. The tourism industry in India is extensive and lively, and the nation is fast becoming a major international destination. India’s travel and tourism industry is one of them most lucrative businesses in the country, and also accredited with contributing a considerable volume of foreign exchange to the country reserves.

A number of reasons are cited as being the cause of the progress and success of India’s travel and tourism sector. Economic growth has added millions annually to the ranks of India’s middle class, a group that is driving domestic tourism growth. Thanks in part to its booming IT and outsourcing industry a growing number of business trips are made by foreigners to India, who will often add a weekend break or longer holiday to their trip. Foreign tourists spend more in India than almost any other country worldwide.

Growth Trends

The tourism and hospitality industry being the largest service sector in the country, adds around 6.23 per cent to the national GDP and 8.78 per cent of the total employment in the country.

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism also compiled a monthly estimate on the foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) and foreign exchange earnings (FEE) based on the total number of foreign visitors in the country.

  • During the month of September 2011, the total number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) was 401,000 as compared to FTAs of 369,000 during the month of September, 2010 and 331,000 in August, 2009. There has been a growth of 8.7 per cent in September, 2011 over September, 2010 as compared to a growth of 11.6 per cent registered in September 2010 over September, 2009. The growth of 8.7 per cent in September 2011 is higher than 5.3 per cent in August, 2011.
  • During January-September, 2011, the total FTAs stood at 4,220,000 with a growth of 10.0 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 3,835,000 with a growth of 8.0 per cent during January-September 2010 over the corresponding period of 2009.
  • In a report by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian hospitality sector is expecting a projected investment of US$ 12 billion within the next two years along with a number of industry initiatives already in progress. As per the report by the Ministry of Tourism, the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) is as follows –
  • Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) during the month of September 2011 were US$ 1.1 billion as compared to US$ 892.15 million in September 2010. The growth rate in FEE in September 2011 was 22.9 per cent as compared to 23.2 per cent in September 2010 over September 2009.
  • FEE from tourism in rupee terms during January-September 2011 were US$ 10.25 billion with a growth of 16.6 per cent, as compared to the FEE of US$ 8.79 billion with a growth of 22.7 per cent during January- September 2010 over the corresponding period of 2009.
  • FEE in US$ terms during the month of September 2011 were US$ 1208 million as compared to FEE of US$ 1015 million during the month of September 2010 and US$ 785 million in September 2009.
  • The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms in September 2011 over September 2010 was 19 per cent as compared to the growth of 29.3 per cent in September 2010 over September 2009. FEE from tourism in terms of US$ during January-September 2011 were US$ 11.9 billion with a growth of 18.7 per cent, as compared to US$ 10.01 billion with a growth of 30.5 per cent during January-August 2010 over the corresponding Period of 2009.

India Tourism Market & Future Forecast (2009 – 2015) report provides a detailed analysis of the present and future prospects of the Indian tourism industry. The report has been researched at source Globally and India specific, and features latest-available data covering Global tourist arrival and receipts, Global International and Outbound tourism, Top 10 spenders globally, Inbound and Outbound tourist arrivals and expenditure in India, Domestic tourist visits and expenditure in India, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in hotel and tourism sector from 2005 to 2009. Hotel industry income and revenue, Global and India – Inbound, Outbound tourist arrival and expenditure forecast till 2015, Buddhist tourism growth trends, Trends and regulatory changes, changes, Challenges affecting the Indian tourism sector.

Research Highlights

  • International tourist arrival in India is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.9% for the period spanning 2010-2015.
  • Indian outbound tourist departure is expected to reach 20.5 Million by 2015.
  • Domestic tourist visits is expected to increase with a CAGR of 12.29% for the period spanning 2008-2015.
  • Indian tourism Foreign Exchange Earnings is expected to grow with a CAGR of 7.9% for the period spanning 2010-2015.
  • In Indian union budget 2010 Indian government has given more than INR 1,000 Crore to Ministry of Tourism India
  • Budget for Incredible India campaign increased by INR 62.3 Crore for 2010-11 from previous year 2009-10.
  • The number of medical tourist arrivals in India is expected to increase by a CAGR of 24.6% from 2009 to 2013.
  • India medical tourism market is expected to be more than US$ 2 Billion by 2013.

INDIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

The hotel industry in India thrives largely due to the growth in tourism and travel. The emergence of budget hotels in India to cater to the majority of the population who seek affordable accommodation has also materialized into an effective driver for growth. This sector will benefit due to certain Government regulations that will steer this sector towards further growth.

Hotel Industry in India 2011 begins with an overview of the travel and tourism industry in India – providing the market size and growth as well as an indication of the foreign exchange earnings by the sector. This is followed by an overview of hotel industry. This provides an introduction to the Indian hotel industry and covers the market size and growth of luxury hotels as well as the market segmentation of the hotel rooms operational in India. The various types of hotels in India based on services provided are also highlighted. Furthermore, it covers the primary consumer base for this space. Additionally, it highlights the occupancy rates prevalent in the market.

An analysis of the drivers reveals the factors for growth of the market and includes growth in tourism, opening of the aviation sector, emergence of budget hotels, shortage of hotel rooms and major events. India being a land of rich natural diversity has consistently been on the tourists’ radar and tourism has been on a growth trajectory. India is presently considered a provider of low cost medical treatments, which has led to the development of India as a destination for medical tourism. These factors have contributed to the growth of tourism which is a powerful driver for growth of the hotel sector. The opening up of the aviation sector has provided the needed thrust.

The growth would primarily be driven by the rise in domestic tourists. The growth in domestic tourist arrivals can be attributed to the rise in both leisure and business travellers. The growth in leisure travelers would be driven by the rise in personal discretionary income, the higher usage of credit cards, the popularized weekend vacation culture and the growing number of multiple earner families. The increase in business travellers can be attributed to the growing trade and commerce, the increasing number of Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions (MICE) destinations, the increasing number of multi-national companies setting up their base in India and the improvement in air, road and rail connectivity.

Major players diversifying into the mid-market segment to develop budget hotels has also been an added driving force. Such hotels are constructed to tap prospective consumers who seek stay at affordable price. International companies are increasingly looking at setting up such hotels. Imbalance in increase in tourists both domestic and foreign not been supported with equal number of rooms is a latent source of opportunity for growth. Additionally, the rise in major events being organized in India has also posed as a chief driver for the sector. However, the sector is also facing certain challenges. Factors such as socio-political concerns, lack of infrastructure and increasing operating costs pose as barriers to the growth of this sector.

The major trends identified in the market include entry of foreign players, franchising model of operation and special services for female guests. This sector is also affected by certain Government regulations such as the setting up of Hospitality Development and Promotion Board, changes in the taxation system as well as tourism enhancement.