Quokkas From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (4 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 610 times:
I wasn't sure where to post this one. It does touch on "activities" in flight, it does touch on tech/ops and it is based on a medical research paper published in the New Zealand Medical Journal (subscription only). Fortunately there is an "executive summary" published in the West Australian - this is serious stuff, after all.
It seems that pilots have been advised to let flatulence out "for safety reasons." Now a study conducted by a team of Danish and British gastroenterologists has published a paper covering the serious issues involved.
Of course farting is a normal product of digestion but apparently, according to this team of serious scientists, it is made worse by flying. Changes in the volume of intestinal gasses as cabin pressure alters may lead people to fart more often. Holding back can lead to stress, discomfort, pain, bloating, dyspepsia and other symptoms.
But letting go may also have consequences.
Quote: “If the pilot restrains a fart, all the drawbacks previously mentioned, including diminished concentration, may affect his abilities to control the airplane,” the researchers say.
“If he lets go of the fart his co-pilot may be affected by its odour, which again reduces safety on board the flight.”
Fortunately our esteemed team of experts warn against setting light to farts, despite the known effects of reducing the smell. I can picture this being included in future safety videos - " in the event that you fart, please do not use naked flames..."
They do go on to note that:
Women pong more than men (I wonder how they conducted the tests?)
Exercising the pelvic ring is essential to maintain the ability to fart silently. Now what counts as exercise?
So what to do? Hold it in and be uncomfortable or let rip and see the cabin crew avoid you and miss out on the champagne? Should there be a dedicated cabin for those who may be more flatulent than others like we see demands for kiddies only cabins? Decisions, decisions.
DocLightning, it's over to you for a second opinion.
Geezer From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 1467 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 461 times:
Just now, for the first time in about 6 months, when I first logged onto A.net, something told me to check out "Aviation News" !
While still reading the article relating to "high altitude flatulence", I was thinking, "maybe we should have a thread about this on Non-Av"?
Apparently, Quokkas and I were thinking alike today! I can certainly see where this could get to be a very serious problem if the airlines fail to do something to ameliorate the problem. After a bit of consideration, I believe I have come up with a very effective and positive "fix" that will totally eliminate the problem.
I am currently in the process of contacting my patent attorney, and after consultation, I may contact Boeing next; what with all the difficulties they have been experiencing of late with their Li-ion batteries, I'm sure they would be very happy to have the opportunity to implement this innovative new technology into their products. Perhaps they could have a contest among frequent airline travelers in order to suggest ideas for the up-coming ad campaign; something like ......"Fly the Dreamliner...guaranteed to be sweet-smelling all the way !" (or something to that effect)
Charley
Stupidity: Doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting a different result; Albert Einstein
aerdingus From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2495 posts, RR: 18 Reply 4, posted (4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 447 times:
Ah, cropdusting. When ye gotta go, ye gotta go....
In our crew training manual, when learning about decompression, it mentioned that it causes "air to escape the body". Very serious stuff obviously, a decompression....but....the thoughts of screaming at people to put their masks on & carrying out the decompression drill while trumping away is kind of a strange image...
Also it advises us to watch what we eat, as there is more chance of flatulence up in the air...specifically it mentions curry!
BA EI FH FR LX RE SK TS VY ZB 3K 5G A300 A310 A319 A320 A321 A333 ATR72 B735 B738 B744 B772 MD82 BCN BOH BRU CPH CRL DUB
petertenthije From Netherlands, joined Jul 2001, 3239 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (4 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 418 times:
Quoting aerdingus (Reply 4): ....the thoughts of screaming at people to put their masks on & carrying out the decompression drill while trumping away is kind of a strange image
Don't tell anyone, cause it's a secret. The masks are not for oxygen, they are to keep faul odors out!
okie From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2410 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (4 months 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 397 times:
It is so noisy up front in a Boeing no one would ever know unless it smelled real bad.
When they had a three person crew up front you would just look around as if somebody else did it.
Unfortunately now with two up front you just have smile real big and take credit for your accomplishment unless of course there is a jump seater, they always get the blame.
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From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16896 posts, 
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When ye gotta go, ye gotta go....
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