Posted on 12/05/2024 8:18:12 AM PST by billorites
The Air Line Pilots Association says Airbus is proposing adding a toilet to the flight deck of its aircraft to eliminate the need for relief pilots and pave the way for single-pilot operations or Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO). According to paddleyourowncanoe.com, the planemaker wants to put the open potty behind the captain's seat and perhaps install a radio console beside it so the otherwise indisposed can stay in contact with the outside world. As might be expected, pilot unions are dumping all over the plan. "Think about that for a moment; that's no-pilot ops," the publication quoted an unnamed ALPA source as saying regarding the issue at a recent meeting of its board of directors.
The technology behind single-pilot ops is well developed and tested but the wild card has always been human factors, the most vexing of which come down to sometimes unpredictable and always variable physiology. The publication says the European Aviation Safety Agency has been studying the issue from end to end, considering everything from diapers to fluid and diet restriction to relieve the problem, and deduced that none were acceptable.
The potty problem potentially arises on long haul flights operated with fewer pilots than the three or four now used. During cruise, a single pilot would be left on the flight deck alone for up to three hours while the other(s) rest. If the flying pilot gets caught short, he or she would have to wake one of the others, potentially causing a violation of crew rest mandates. Airbus apparently sees the flight deck ensuite as the answer, and the pilot potty could appear on the flight deck of a test A350 by 2027. The manufacturer says single-pilot operations could be used in freighters in the next five years.
(Excerpt) Read more at avweb.com ...
Three hours? Perhaps consider a stool softener.
Just let Otto fly the plane.
Is the same for office cubicles right around the corner?
Gonna have to sit side-saddle on that thing.
Why have a separate seat for the toilet? Just have the pilot fly on the throne for the whole trip.
As a passenger, I’d rather risk “potentially causing a violation of crew rest mandates” than having the pilot away from the controls sitting on the crapper. And how do the pilots feel about having an open toilet in their confined work area.
Use a “HERE” like fighter pilots have in their AC. HERE (Read: Human Element Rage Extender). I use one in my C-172 Sky Hark on long 5 hour flights.
The love of money is the root of ALL evil
Just incorporate the toilet into the pilot chair and issue crotch-less uniforms - solved.
One of these could be useful in cars on long trips…
My old drinking buddy (featured in S2E16 of Buried In The Backyard) cut out the floorboard of his car so he could drink and drive better.
Ol drunk Jim also rerouted the wiper fluid to squirt Jack Daniels into his mouth at the push of a button.
Miss that guy.
The sound effects might be uh interesting.
“As a passenger, I’d rather risk “potentially causing a violation of crew rest mandates” than having the pilot away from the controls sitting on the crapper. “
Read the article.
Just forget the pilots. Drop them from airlines.
Let the operation of the plane go the way of drones. If drones can be operated remotely, so can passenger planes. Would save a lot of dough and no more drunken pilots. ;)
Flight attendants can also be robotic. No more humans involved.
But, I wouldn’t fly on them myself. ;)
Why not equip them with the Napper Crapper 9000?
“Three hours? Perhaps consider a stool softener.”
I fail to see your point.
A lot of puns were throne into this article.
Will Loofthansa be the first in line? I suppose it Depends.
No
Thanks for the laugh!
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