Airbus Proposes Flight Deck Potty For Single-Pilot Ops

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-05 17:16:51 | Updated at 2024-12-22 18:04:20 2 weeks ago
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Airbus Proposes Flight Deck Potty For Single-Pilot Ops
AvWeb ^ | December 2, 2024 | Russ Niles

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 ...


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"a single pilot would be left on the flight deck alone for up to three hours while the other(s) rest."

Three hours? Perhaps consider a stool softener.

1 posted on 12/05/2024 8:18:12 AM PST by billorites


To: billorites

Just let Otto fly the plane.


2 posted on 12/05/2024 8:25:03 AM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)


To: billorites

Is the same for office cubicles right around the corner?


3 posted on 12/05/2024 8:25:25 AM PST by Ge0ffrey


To: billorites

Gonna have to sit side-saddle on that thing.


4 posted on 12/05/2024 8:26:33 AM PST by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)


To: billorites

Why have a separate seat for the toilet? Just have the pilot fly on the throne for the whole trip.


5 posted on 12/05/2024 8:26:41 AM PST by Fido969


To: billorites

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.


6 posted on 12/05/2024 8:28:04 AM PST by hanamizu ( )


To: billorites


7 posted on 12/05/2024 8:29:05 AM PST by Vaquero (In Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'llz just kill you. )


To: billorites

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.


8 posted on 12/05/2024 8:29:25 AM PST by mosaicwolf


To: billorites

The love of money is the root of ALL evil



To: billorites

Just incorporate the toilet into the pilot chair and issue crotch-less uniforms - solved.



To: billorites

One of these could be useful in cars on long trips…


11 posted on 12/05/2024 8:33:47 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)


To: billorites

Why can't they just replace the pilot seat with a crapper and have them multitask?

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.

12 posted on 12/05/2024 8:34:23 AM PST by Manic_Episode (Harpazo imminent. Each post may be my last. It's been real =)


To: hanamizu

The sound effects might be uh interesting.


13 posted on 12/05/2024 8:34:43 AM PST by xp38


To: hanamizu

“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.


14 posted on 12/05/2024 8:35:00 AM PST by TexasGator ('/1./')


To: billorites

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. ;)


15 posted on 12/05/2024 8:35:19 AM PST by adorno ( )


To: billorites

Why not equip them with the Napper Crapper 9000?


16 posted on 12/05/2024 8:36:20 AM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher )


To: billorites

“Three hours? Perhaps consider a stool softener.”

I fail to see your point.


17 posted on 12/05/2024 8:36:25 AM PST by TexasGator ('/1./')


To: billorites; Rennes Templar; The Spirit Of Allegiance

to eliminate the need for relief pilots

A lot of puns were throne into this article.

Will Loofthansa be the first in line? I suppose it Depends.

18 posted on 12/05/2024 8:38:16 AM PST by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)


To: billorites


To: Vaquero


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