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In This Issue CTP Employees Make A Difference Over Coming Jet Lag CO Testing BioFuels January 7th Travel News Briefs Cyclone Season Starts January Vacation Travel Show Meeting & Event Planning Services Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings CTP & RENNERT
TRAVEL INVITE YOU TO JOIN US......... RENNERT TRAVEL̵=
7;S
12TH ANNUAL VACATION SHOW O=
ur
Travel Show is <= o:p> Palladium Theatre Upper Level at the Call for more information (210) 524-3300 JANUARY VACATION
SPECIALS Cruise Lines and Tour Operato=
rs are
offering great values that are too good to believe. Contact our leisure departmen=
t: Rennert Travel 210-524-3300 CTP EVENT PLANNERS Jump start the new year for 2009 Meetings and Events by
contacting one of our CTP EVENT PLANNERS! TRAVEL SMARTS Register with the Embassy or Consulates=
Registration with t=
he
U.S. Embassy or Consulate (in the country you are visiting) makes your
presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular
officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, Ameri=
can
consular officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary,=
but
they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are. You can
register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State
Department’s TRAVEL QUICK LINKS =
Bureau Consular Affairs – www.travel.state.gov/inde=
x.html
Health Information – www.mdtravelhealth.com=
FAA – www.faa.gov
Traffic Conditions – www.traffic.com Weather – www.weather.com Currency Conversion – www.oanda.com/convert/class=
ic Time Conversion – www.worldtimeserve.com=
TRAVEL =
WARNINGS Travel
Warnings are issued to describe long-term,
protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A Travel
Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist Ameri=
can
citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or
because of a drawdown of its staff. For list of countries please visit:<= o:p> www.travel.state.gov/inde=
x.html Current Travel Warn=
ings =
Sri Lanka 2/22/2008 TRAVEL =
ALERTS Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate informati=
on
about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that =
pose
imminent risks to the security of C=
urrent
Travel Alerts: =
India CONTACT CTP Phone: (210) 366-9565 (800) 523-9036 Fax: (210) 366-5052 http://www.ctptravelservices.c=
om |
CTP EMPLOYEES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
<= o:p> B=
ecause
the project was so well received by the children at the shelter and by the
CTP employees, CTP elected to sponsor “Fund Raisers” througho=
ut
the year 2009 for donations to The Childrens Shelter. New Fund Raiser programs and the=
mes
for the Fund Raisers will be held monthly. The team of volunteers for Jan=
uary
are already hard at work planning the launching of January 2009 Fund Rais=
ers. Anyone who would be interested in
helping with the fund raisers for The Children’s Shelter are encour=
age
of join us. If you would like to donate funds for the Shelter or your tim=
e in
contributing to the success of 2009 Fundraisers, contact one of our key
members: Pat Works, Kelley Casy or Pete and
JET LAG IS SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS Companies that s=
end
executives around the globe are so concerned about the mind-numbing and
strength-sapping effects of jet lag that they bar employees from negotiat=
ing
or signing contracts for the first 24 hours after they fly. The term “jet lag” is used to
describe symptoms that result from temporary desynchronization of circadi=
an
rhythm between a traveler’s internal clock and the external environ=
ment
(1). When the traveler crosses several time zones rapidly, physiologic
rhythms that are innately synchronized with the day-night cycles must be =
reset
to match the new time zone. Although incompletely understood, these rhyth=
ms
include diurnal variation in body temperature and cortisol secretion. The
major known mediator of the internal clock is melatonin, which is secrete=
d by
the pineal gland in response to darkness and induces sleepiness. Daylight
suppresses melatonin secretion; meals and other factors also influence its
secretion. Occurrence
Eastward travel is associated with difficulty=
in
falling asleep at the new bed-time and difficulty arising in the morning,
while westward travel is associated with early evening sleepiness and pre=
dawn
awakening (2). Even after returning home, a traveler may experience prolo=
nged
disordered sleep patterns. Resumption of normal sleep may require 2 days
after an eastward voyage and 5 days after re-turning from the west (3). Risk for travelers
Individual responses to crossing time zones a=
nd
ability to adapt to the new time zone vary. Increasing age, crossing more
time zones, or traveling eastward generally increase the time required for
adaptation. Situations requiring critical decision-making, such as import=
ant
meetings, should be avoided for the first day after arrival, if possible.=
Clinical Presentation
Symptoms of jet lag are temporary and include
excessive daytime sleepiness, nighttime insomnia, decreased performance,
headache, general malaise, appetite loss, and dysregulation of
gastrointestinal and urinary schedules (1). Prevention
Jet lag may be minimized by avoiding large me=
als
or dehydration, limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption during the flig=
ht,
optimizing exposure to available sunlight following arrival from either
direction of travel, breaking up the journey with a stop-over, and careful
use of melatonin prior to desired sleep time (1,4). Treatment
Persons traveling eastward should seek bright
light in the morning, while those traveling westward should seek bright l=
ight
in the afternoon. Adjustment after westward travel may be less difficult,=
as
the traveler may more easily stay awake in the daylight as long as possib=
le.
In general, the more time spent outdoors in the first several days follow=
ing
travel, the faster the adjustment to the new time zone. A variety of nonpharmacologic therapies have =
been
used to attenuate the symptoms of jet lag. In principle, efforts to adjust
light exposure, activity, and meal times to the new schedule as soon as
possible after arrival promote more rapid resetting of the internal clock.
Outside daylight, even on cloudy days, is more intense than interior
lighting. Light visors or lamps mimicking daylight have been proposed by =
some
authors to stimulate normal circadian rhythms in travelers or shift worke=
rs
(2). The Over-the-counter and prescription medications
have been used to promote sleep on long trips or at the new bedtime after
arrival. Melatonin is available in the Prescription nonaddictive sedative hypnotics,
such as zolpidem or zopiclone, have been shown in some studies to promote
longer periods of high-quality sleep in travelers experiencing jet lag
(1,4,8). Benzodiazepines have a direct effect on neurons mediating the in=
ternal
clock, as well as a hypnotic effect. Short-acting drugs in this class, su=
ch
as temazepam, are preferred to minimize oversedation the following day (4=
).
In making the decision to use sedative hypnotics, even in the short-term,=
the
potential benefits should be weighed against potential adverse effects.
Combined use of sedative hypnotic medications and melatonin has been
associated with nausea, vomiting, confusion, dizziness, headache, and dry
mouth (6). Agents that promote alertness, such as caffei=
ne or
prescription CNS stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, pemoline, or modafinil),=
may
interfere with normal sleep patterns and often have adverse effects and
potential for dependence (2, 4). Cont=
inental
Airlines to Start Testing Flights Powered by Sustainable Biofuels<=
/strong> Contine=
ntal to
be first carrier in the Contine=
ntal
Airlines announced plans for the first Biofuels-powered demonstration fli=
ght
of a The
demonstration flight, which will be operated with no passengers, will be
powered by a special fuel blend including components derived from algae a=
nd
jatropha plants—sustainable, second-generation fuel sources that
don’t impact food crops or water resources, and don’t contrib=
ute
to deforestation. Contine=
ntal has
partnered on this project with Boeing; CFM International, a 50/50 joint
company of General Electric Company and Snecma (SAFRAN Group); refining
technology developer UOP, a Honeywell company; and oil providers Sapphire
Energy (algae) and Terrasol (jatropha). The
demonstration flight will be the first biofuel flight by a commercial car=
rier
using algae as a fuel source and the first using a two-engine aircraft, a
Boeing 737-800 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines. The fue=
l used
in one of the two CFM engines during the demonstration flight will be a b=
lend
of 50 percent traditional jet fuel, and 50 percent biofuel from algae and
jatropha. Operati=
ng under
a specially-issued “Experimental” aircraft type certificate, =
the
aircraft will be crewed by Continental’s own FAA-licensed test
pilots. With no passengers on board, the flight test plan calls for
operating the No. 2 (right) engine on the special biofuel blend, including
power accelerations / decelerations, in-flight engine shut-down and resta=
rt
and other flight maneuvers that include both normal and non-normal
procedures. Numerous flight parameters will be recorded, and a post-flight
engine analysis will contribute to findings which are expected to show th=
at
the biofuel blend is readily substitutable for regular fuel without any
degradation of performance or safety, and with a net reduction in carbon
emissions. “=
This
flight represents another step in Continental’s commitment to reduc=
ing
carbon emissions and identifying sustainable, long-term fuel solutions for
the aviation industry,” said Continental Chairman and Chief Executi=
ve
Officer Larry Kellner. Contine=
ntal,
Boeing, UOP and CFM have worked together for more than nine months on the
research, production and testing of the biofuel, including laboratory and
ground-based jet engine performance testing to ensure compliance with
stringent aviation fuel performance and safety requirements. As part=
of a
broader industry effort, Boeing and other industry leaders, including
airlines and engine manufacturers, are helping to guide the aviation sect=
or
toward sustainable biofuels produced through advanced biomass conversion
technologies and processes that have the potential to reduce greenhouse g=
ases
throughout their lifecycle. Sustainable biofuels for aviation incorporate
second-generation methodologies relative to fuel source selection and
processing, which are uniquely suited for aerospace use. These biofuels c=
an
then be blended with kerosene fuel (Jet-A) to reduce dependency on fossil
fuels. Contine=
ntal’s
participation in this project is part of a company-wide commitment to
environmental responsibility. On average, Continental burns approximately=
18
gallons of fuel to fly one mainline revenue passenger 1,000 miles, which
represents a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel
consumption since 1997. This is due in large part to the efforts of its
employees in streamlining operational procedures and to an investment of =
more
than $12 billion to acquire 270 fuel-efficient Boeing aircraft and related
equipment. Continental remains committed to further improving fuel effici=
ency
in the decade to come, including investing in its fleet with orders for m=
ore
than 50 Boeing 737-900 Next Generation aircraft, and 25 Boeing 787
Dreamliners. TRAVE=
L NEWS BRIEFS Southwest seeks more business travelers amid weak econo=
my Delta, Northwest trim international expansion ANA uses downturn to expand U.S. service=
Delta announces Australia flights, challenging United, =
Qantas Continental partners with Newark to test satellite tech=
nology Southwest announces schedule changes for 2009 TRAVEL ALERT SOUTH PACIFIC CYCLONE SEASON American citizens =
residing
in or traveling to the South Pacific region are alerted that the South
Pacific cyclone season runs from |
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