Everything that happens when you flush a toilet on an airplane
When you gotta go, you gotta go – even if it is 37,000 ft in the air.
It's one of those things that we never really question - especially when you are desperate for a number two.
However, have you ever actually thought about what happens when you go to the toilet whilst onboard an aeroplane?
Well, for all you frequent flyers out there, here’s exactly what happens when you take a trip to the airplane toilet.
The Myth of the High-Flying Waste
Contrary to popular belief, waste is rarely jettisoned onto unsuspecting folks below. Instead, it’s all flushed away with the plumbing taking any excrement to specialised sealed compartments at the back of the plane.
The Frequency of Flushing
According to TikTok influencer and pilot Garrett Ray, this can happen up to a thousand times on a Boeing 747 during a long-haul flight – which perhaps explains why there’s always a queue.
The Astonishing Amounts
If you are still curious about what is involved in taking a leak mid-flight, the US pilot also revealed that over 1,211 liters (320 gallons) of waste can be generated during that time.
Disposal at Your Destination
When you’ve reached your final destination, the waste is then carefully pumped from the plane using a pipe attached to a port. This is done by airport staff, usually before the plane is able to take flight again.
Blue Ice: A Chilling Phenomenon
However, there are, of course, instances where things don’t always go to plan with the high-altitude excrement. In fact, there is a particularly weird phenomenon known as ‘blue ice’ which can occur on some flights.
What is Blue Ice?
Named after the color of the disinfectant, this is where frozen waste leaks from the aircraft, usually from the service port. The resulting overflow then makes its final descent onto people below, as the weight becomes too much. (yuk!)
Modern Solutions
Whilst modern vacuum toilets have made this a rare occurrence, there have been instances where solid blocks of blue sewage have hit people. One British man was even unfortunate enough to have been splattered in the stuff, after stepping out into his garden in Windsor.
A Sticky Situation
To make matters even worse, the poonami happened just as the UK was coming out of lockdown in 2021 with the BBC reporting that it covered the man’s ‘whole garden, and garden umbrellas, and him’.
Rare But Real
Talk about a sh**ty day. At a later parish meeting, councillor Geoff Paxton explained that such incidents are ‘very rare’. Having worked at various airports for over 40 years, he told attendees: "We used to have problems with blue ice [frozen human waste and disinfectant] on arrivals but that was because those toilets used to leak."
In conclusion, when you flush a toilet on an airplane, it's not as simple as it might seem. Your waste takes a journey through the aircraft's plumbing systems, and in most cases, it's safely stored and disposed of at your destination. However, there is the rare occurrence of 'blue ice,' which can lead to some unpleasant surprises for those on the ground.
FAQs
1. Is it true that waste can be jettisoned from an airplane toilet?
- No, waste is not jettisoned from an airplane toilet. It is collected and stored onboard until it can be safely disposed of at the destination airport.
2. How often does the waste disposal system operate during a flight?
- The waste disposal system can operate up to a thousand times during a long-haul flight, depending on the aircraft type and passenger load.
3. What is 'blue ice,' and why does it happen?
- 'Blue ice' is frozen waste that can leak from the aircraft's service port. It occurs when there are issues with the aircraft's toilet system.
4. Are incidents of 'blue ice' common?
- No, incidents of 'blue ice' are very rare, thanks to modern vacuum toilet systems that have reduced the likelihood of such occurrences.
5. Who is responsible for disposing of waste from the aircraft?
- Airport staff are responsible for pumping waste from the aircraft once it reaches its final destination.