Suppose you find yourself on an airplane and you need to use the restroom. You make your way to the toilet and you observe that the bowl is devoid of water. Regardless, you proceed with your business. Upon flushing, you notice all your waste is swiftly sucked away, all the while producing a powerful, noisy suction sound. The workings of an airplane toilet are distinct from the ones we typically encounter at home or elsewhere. So, what makes them operate as they do?
The basic design of a toilet at home is straightforward. You flush, and a siphoning action removes the water and waste, carrying it through pipes to the sewer. Simple enough, but what about when you’re cruising at 35,000 feet? How do airplane toilets work and where does the waste go?
Shattering Common Misconceptions
First things first, let’s debunk some persistent, but untrue myths about airplane bathrooms. Despite what you might have heard, aircraft do not intentionally jettison their waste mid-flight. If you’re below a passing plane, you’re safe from any unsavory downpours.
Another falsehood is the tale of toilets having such strong suction that they can eviscerate you. This story, often featuring a plump woman whose anatomy supposedly forms a “perfect seal”, is simply a far-fetched urban legend. The truth is, the shape of the human body and the toilet seat design make such an eventuality impossible. So, rest assured, this is one tall tale you can dismiss.
How Do Airplane Toilets Work?
Rather than rely on water to carry away waste, airplane toilets utilize a powerful vacuum system. This system is the reason why flushes on an aircraft sound louder and feel more forceful compared to the ones at home.
Post-flush, you might notice blue sanitizing liquid reappear in the bowl. This fluid, while used for cleaning in both home and airplane toilets, plays a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness in the frequently used public restrooms aboard aircraft. The vacuum system removes most waste, leaving the sanitizing liquid to sanitize and freshen the bowl.
Storing and Managing Waste
Now, the question remains – where does the waste go after being sucked away by the vacuum? It’s stored onboard in special cavities until the end of the flight. These cavities hold the waste, which, once mixed with the sanitizing liquid, forms ‘blue ice’.
Very rarely, chunks of this ‘blue ice’ can detach, leading to stories of waste raining down from planes. However, such instances are extremely uncommon.
As for the volume of waste generated during a flight, it varies. Each flush uses an average of 0.55 gallons per passenger. For a long flight, this could amount to a significant volume of waste. Still, dedicated teams efficiently manage the disposal process after landing, making for a clean slate for the next flight.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
