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Daredevil pilot lands plane on Burj Al Arab helipad with ‘Bullseye’ stunt

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Headline staff

Another breathtaking moment has been added to the list of feats achieved at Burj Al Arab in Dubai when a pilot achieved a perfect drop landing on the iconic hotel’s famous helipad.

Polish pilot Luke Czepiela, who has also done many difficult types of flying feats, termed it a “bulls-eye landing” in the prevailing weather conditions and the given challenges.
At 6.58am on March 14, the pilot became “the first person in history to land a plane on the helipad” at 212 metres of height.

Ranking his other achievements in detail, Czepiela went on to rate his latest feat on a stellar resume as “11 out of 10”. A former Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class World Champion, he had just 27 metres of round space to bring his Cub Crafters STOL (short take-off and landing) plane to a stop from a landing speed of 43km/h. He brought it to a halt in just 20.76 metres from touchdown on his third attempt.

Although the aircraft is designed for abrupt landings in typical conditions, landing a plane on a platform raised 212 metres in the air, next to a 56-storey building, and with no visual cues to guide him made Czepiela’s historic landing an extraordinary feat.

Czepiela had been preparing for this historic moment since 2021, having completed 650 test landings at ground level in Poland, the US, and Dubai to build his confidence in landing on the helipad without any visual references.

“Normally, when approaching a runway, I can easily see how high above it I am and control the approach path. But today, the ground was 212 metres below, and the helipad disappeared over the nose of the plane, reducing my periphery. As my last few references disappeared, I had to rely on my practice and instincts to bring the plane to a stop before running out of space,” he said.

The world’s only seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel has a history of staging events, mostly around sports, to raise the adrenaline levels of viewers and visitors ever since Tiger Woods hit a routine tee shot from the green pad in 2004.

In 2005, two of tennis’ biggest legends, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, played a match on a makeshift court on the landing area.

In 2013, former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard performed doughnuts to celebrate Red Bull Racing winning the Formula One Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships that season.

In 2019, professional BMX rider Kriss Kyle rode his bike off the edge of a helicopter and landed on the helipad in a few breathtaking moments.

Journalist for 25 years with leading publications in India and UAE such as The National, Mumbai Mirror, DNA, Indian Express and former Sports Editor of eIndia.com. Now managing editor of Headline.ae, part of MEMc (https://www.memc.co)

Announcements

Ian Bell to play for Meteora England Champions in World Champions League

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Meteora Developers, a trailblazing force in the business sector, has officially announced its acquisition of the esteemed England Champions cricket team, in partnership with Bollywood icon Jacqueline Fernandez. This strategic move positions the England Champions to enter the prestigious World Championships of Legends (WCL), signaling a historic convergence of cricketing legends and global fan engagement.

The announcement unfolded amidst a glitzy ceremony at Taj Downtown, Dubai, attended by former England captain, Ian Bell and other names from the sporting world

Meteora Developers’ founder and CEO, Mr. Praveen Sharma, expressed enthusiasm about the association with WCL and the ambitious goals for the England Champions. “Our entry into the World Championships of Legends is a pivotal moment for us. With cricketing greats like Ian Bell on our team, we’re poised to build a legacy that will captivate and inspire English fans globally. This is just the start of a thrilling journey,” Sharma asserted, hinting at a promising future for the franchise.

Cricket star Ian Bell, an integral part of the England Champions, underlined the significance of this venture for players and the sport. “Being part of the England Champions under the WCL is an extraordinary opportunity. The league’s innovative approach and the chance to play in England make this a truly exciting prospect. I’m eager to contribute to our team’s success and make our fans proud,” Bell commented, emphasising the players’ enthusiasm and commitment.

Harshit Tomar, CEO of WCL, delivered an impassioned overview of the league’s vision, emphasizing its commitment to redefine the global cricket landscape. Tomar warmly welcomed Meteora Developers and the England Champions into the WCL family, expressing high expectations for the collaboration. “This partnership promises to bring innovation and excitement to cricket, setting new benchmarks for excellence,” Tomar remarked.

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Glory International University honours global talents with Honorary Doctorates

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Glory International University (GUI), originally based in the United States of America, proudly recognized eminent personalities from diverse fields worldwide with esteemed Honorary Doctorates at a grand ceremony held at Dusit Thani, Dubai.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of H.E.Vacaba Diaby, Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the UAE, as the Chief Guest.

The distinguished jury panel, comprising Prof.Pale Sansan Hermann, GUI President to Africa, Dr.Naser Sulaiman, the University’s National Director of UAE, and Dr.Anwar Al-Yasiri, Managing Director DST TV & Cinema,Dr.Abdulla Ali Salem Al Mubarak, Dr.Mohanad Al Awadiya bestowed the coveted Honorary Doctorates upon 23 deserving awardees hailing from nations including the UAE, India, Pakistan, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Canada, Egypt, Turkey, among others. The honorees represent a spectrum of disciplines encompassing Business Law, Management,Literature, Arts, Musical Arts,Social Work,Business Administration,Agriculture,Digital Technology,and Telecommunications.

H.E.Vacaba Diaby, in his address, emphasized the significance of acknowledging and celebrating diverse talents and faculties across the globe.

Prof.Pale Sansan Hermann shared insights into GUI’s journey of evolution since 2015, highlighting the university’s burgeoning global stature.Additionally, he outlined the institution’s forthcoming plans to establish operations in the UAE as its third base after the USA and Burkina Faso.

Dr.Naser Sulaiman, the UAE director of the University commenced the ceremony with a warm welcome speech, setting the tone for an evening of recognition and celebration. He concluded the event with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants for their contributions towards making the occasion a resounding success.The event was orchestrated by Srikanth Chittarvu and compered by Criza.

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DP World ILT20 Season 2: UAE’s top five performers

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The recently concluded DP World ILT20 Season 2 captured the attention of fans worldwide with its enthralling displays of athleticism and competitive cricket. However, beyond the fierce battles between international giants, this tournament provided a mega platform to unearth the burgeoning talent of UAE’s own cricketers.

Here are the top five performers from UAE for the season:

1.Muhammad Waseem

The opening batter from the United Arab Emirates was the fourth highest run-getter this edition, with 321 runs in 12 matches at an impressive strike rate of 148. Providing an impetus at the top with his aggressive stroke play, Waseem’s exploits were crucial to the MI Emirates stellar campaign. The MI Emirates were the first team to secure their place in the play offs and subsequently went on to win the championship.

Waseem’s stand out knock of the season came against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, where he struck an unbeaten 89 to ensure the MI Emirates would coast home with eight wickets in hand.

Waseem’s tournament exploits earned him the Blue Belt which came with a cash purse of $15,000 for being the most outstanding UAE player, second time in a row.

2.Alishan Sharafu

The top order batter for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders had a good season compiling 220 runs in the 11 innings he batted in, at a strike rate of 120. While his contributions played a significant role in his team’s qualification to the play-offs, his match winning knock of 82 not out from 47 deliveries against the Desert Vipers while chasing 155 was the fourth highest individual score in the tournament and also his best performance.

3.Muhammad Jawadullah

Returning to his second season with the Sharjah Warriors, the left arm pacer was one of the leading wicket takers for the Sharjah Warriors this season with 10 wickets in 8 matches. Although the team had a forgettable season finishing in last place, the 24-year-old was consistent with his lines and lengths. His best performance of the tournament was against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders where he picked up 3 wickets for only 5 runs with an economy rate of 2.5 runs per over.

4.Zuhaib Zubair

The Gulf Giants’ Zuhaib Zubair was one of the best bowlers from the UAE this season.  In eight matches, the leg-spinner picked up 11 wickets with his leg breaks at an average of 16. He also logged some of the best figures of the tournament when he finished with 4/22 to power the Giants to a mammoth 79 run victory against the Sharjah Warriors.

5.Muhammad Rohid

The 21-year-old left arm quick from the MI Emirates impressed one and all with his bowling, picking up nine wickets in the 16 overs he’s bowled in the tournament. While he may not have been among the top wicket takers of the tournament, his bowling showed a lot of promise. His best performance came against the Desert Vipers where he picked three for 21 in three overs, accounting for the wickets of Alex Hales, Adam Hose and Azam Khan.

Special mention

Though UAE’s U19 captain Aayan Afzal Khan does not figure in the top 5 list, thanks to Muhammad Rohid pipping Aayan for the fifth spot, the 18-year-old left-arm spinner from the Gulf Giants is worthy of a mention for his fantastic bowling spells. He picked up six wickets in the seven innings he bowled including a spell of two wickets for eight runs in his three overs against the Dubai Capitals that helped his team defend a score of 126, winning the game by 19 runs.

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