Emile A. Okal

Born: Leo and Tiger in Paris, France

Research Areas: Seismology, Tsunamis, Seismoacoustics

Other Languages: French, Italian, Spanish, Slovak, Russian

Favorite Movies: Casablanca; The Bridge on the River Kwai; l'Etranger; Mayrig; Goodbye, Lenin!

Favorite Book: Les Misérables

Favorite Play: Rodogune [Corneille, 1644]

Favorite Operetta: Die Fledermaus

Favorite Food: Tripes à la mode de Caen; Tête de Veau sauce ravigote

Favorite Wines: Haut-Brion, Puligny-Montrachet

Favorite Car: 1971 Simca 1100 Spécial

Favorite Vacationing Spots: N/A [not applicable!]

Mileage Plans: AAdvantage (AA), Mileage Plus (UA), SkyMiles (DL),OnePass (CO),
Dividend Miles (US), EarlyReturns (F9), HawaiianMiles (HA), Executive Club (BA),
Capricorne (UU), Flying Blue (AF/KL), Guest (EY), Enrich (MH), Topbonus (AB)
WorldPerks [NW*], Icarus [OA*], Hellas Jet Club [T4*], Qualiflyer [SR*],
Aviators [TW*], Get-it-all [BN*] [*: now defunct]

Air Travel in 2009: 379983 km in 117 flights over 483:50 hours

Record Air Travel (2008): 426545 km in 126 flights over 539:50 hours

Longest flight (distance): ORD-HKG (and HKG-ORD) 12541 km (UA B-747)

Shortest flight (distance; fixed-winged): BDR-HVN (and HVN-BDR) 24 km (PM DHC-6)

Longest flight (duration): ORD-HKG 15:10 hr (UA B-747)

Shortest flight (duration; fixed-winged): BDR-HVN 0:06 hr (PM DHC-6)

Northernmost Latitude reached on land: 71 N

Southernmost Latitude reached on land: 53 S

Continuously reached Westernmost Longitude: 55 E

Continuously reached Easternmost Longitude: 63 E
Note: This does not include a flight (2006) over the North Pole, for which the concept of longitude becomes indeterminate

Highest elevation reached: 4810 m (La Oroya Railway, Peru)
Highest driven: 4726 m (Paso San Francisco, Chile/Argentina)

Lowest elevation reached: -410 m (driven -392 m) (Dead Sea)

Countries visited: 84 (driven 56 [14 LHD]; lectured 40), plus 9 territories (driven 8; lectured 3), 2 former countries and 1 former territory

States visited in the U.S.: 50 (driven 44) out of 50

French Départements visited: 95 (driven 92) out of 96; Overseas: DOM: 3 out of 6, TOM/POM: 3 out of 5

Time zones visited: GMT-12, GMT-11, GMT-10, GMT-9:30, GMT-8, GMT-7, GMT-6, GMT-5, GMT-4, GMT-3, GMT-2, GMT-1, GMT, GMT+1, GMT+2, GMT+3, GMT+4, GMT+7, GMT+8, GMT+9, GMT+9:30, GMT+10, GMT+10:30, GMT+11, GMT+12, GMT+13

Transatlantic crossings: 269

Equator crossings: 131

Intl. Date Line crossings: 43 Westwards, 43 Eastwards

Iron Curtain crossings (1950-1990): 43

Email: emile@earth.northwestern.edu

Web Site: www.earth.northwestern.edu/people/emile