ABU DHABI // When Hasan Al Redaini found himself presented with the chance of a lifetime – travelling around the world embedded with the Solar Impulse team – he did not hesitate to take it, in spite of the difficulties of leaving home for almost six months.
Mr Al Redaini, 25, who works in group communications for Mubadala, was asked to work with the international team of scientists, engineers and pilots in charge of the solar plane’s around-the-world attempt.
“Obviously, I jumped into it right away because of the exposure,” Mr Al Redaini said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I can be part of it.
“In my world, it’s like Thomas Edison creating the lightbulb. This is the first plane going around the world using only solar. It is to prove to the world that solar energy is efficient. If we can fly a plane, then we can do so many things on the ground.”
Unlike many in the region, Mr Al Redaini was raised with the concept of energy conservation and an ethic of minimal consumption.
“I grew up in an environment where saving energy was a top priority at home,” Mr Al Redaini said. “My father was a military guy. Anytime I left a room, it was ‘Hasan switch off your lights’, so I just grew up in that culture.”
After graduating from the Sorbonne in Paris, Mr Al Redaini joined Mubadala and has been working with Masdar.
He was chosen to be embedded with the Solar Impulse team because of his fluency in English, Arabic and French, a language spoken by many of the mostly Swiss team.
“It’s true that I’m going in an event-management role and a team-support role, but skills that I will gain are transferable skills I’ll be able to use in my day-to-day life on a professional and personal level.”
As the team travels to the 12 countries on its itinerary, it will hold lectures and demonstrations to educate the communities about solar energy. Mr Al Redaini will be involved in the coordination of those events.
During this time, he will also document his journey on Instagram and Twitter. He is the only Emirati embedded with the team.
“Just the exposure, that’s a huge experience,” he said. “I’m super excited about learning so much in such a short time.”
Because the plane will move at about 70 kph and at up to 120kph with tailwinds, Mr Al Redaini will be out of the country for many months. How long depends on the length of each trip and the weather.
“I’ve never been to so many countries in one time and I’m going with the team,” he said. “It’s going to be a whole new experience. It’s not like I’m going with friends, but that’s the cherry on top of the cake.”
He said that travel alone was a dream, but so was the challenge of being far from home.
“It’s especially hard after you’ve kind of settled down in a certain lifestyle,” Mr Al Redaini said. “Sure, I’ll miss my friends and family, but I’m sure the SI team I’m travelling with will be like family to me after this is all over.”
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About this package:
The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 plane took off at 7.15am on Monday morning for Muscat, in its first leg of the journey before continuing on to India and subsequently around the world. The two-man team, comprised of pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, will alternate duties throughout the 12 legs. There is only room for one pilot in the cockpit, so the sole pilot must be self-reliant throughout their journeys. The Swiss pilots will have to alternate 20-minute windows of sleep adding up to just three hours of sleep a day, or 15 hours for the entire trip. Specific food has also been developed to provide the men with necessary nutrients while withstanding the significant changes in temperature. Travelling alongside the Solar Impulse team is Mubadala employee Hasan Al Redaini, 25, who will also assist in the coordination of lectures and demonstrations intended to educate communities from each of the 12 countries about solar energy.
More on the Solar Impulse flight:
■ Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Abu Dhabi for first leg of its round-the-world flight
■ Solar Impulse pilots will sleep in 20-minute installments
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
