Aviation and the impact on the Environment
Posted by JLow on Jun 2, 2010
As mentioned in the previous post, Malaysia Airlines was part of a delegation to visit, or rather, invited by the US State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
The program is under the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Dept of State.
Under the US’s foreign policy, the program’s basic intention is to foster mutual understanding between the US and other countries, through educational, professional and cultural exchanges. The visa under which the Malaysian delegation was issued is a “J1” type, specific for exchange programs. In this case its duration is only 30 days (unlike a tourist’s that is typically of 10 years’ duration).
The topic of Aviation and the Impact on the Environment is a new one for the organisers, and Malaysia was the first country the above authorities have identified and invited for this exchange and topic. The organizers had researched current initiatives and relevant topics related to the aviation industry, and had contacted and organized the respective authorities to meet with the delegation for sharing presentations, practices, and discussions; and also for tours of relevant facilities, such as engine manufacturers, airports, and environment-related research facilities. The Malaysian delegation is very pleased and honoured by this face-giving gesture and time accommodated by these high level officials. The hospitality showed by these officials was akin to that accorded to their best customers, even though we were only visitors.
Along with the above meetings the program had also factored in cultural experiences, such as dinner with host families, allowance for (where possible) events, museums and tours, as well as for the practice of tipping porters and taxi drivers during our various journeys.
The delegation at VOLPE Centre
Photo was taken at our visit to the VOLPE centre in Boston.
Incidentally, following very closely a few days behind ours is the delegation from Thailand, also under this same arrangement and topic.
More articles to recap this trip and the environmental topics, in coming days…
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