So, I was on a 747 yesterday from San Francisco to Hong Kong and there's a hand written note on the lav doors: "Do NOT use the lavs on the left side of the airplane below 16,000 feet." The lavs on the left side are locked shut while on the ground. The pilot makes the same announcement when we take off. So, why? Do they use the outside air pressure to assist in the flush? Are they worried about it backing up? Why only the LEFT??? Anyone here an expert in toilets on a 747? In all my times of flying, I have never seen this before.
There's a blower motor that works for suction on the ground and up to 16000. Above 16000 the blower is shutoff and differential pressure provides the suction. I'm guessing the blower motor was inop and couldn't be replaced, so the lav was limited to 16000 and above. There are 2 separate systems, a left and right, for redundancy. I hope this helps, SFO - HKG Now there's a long flight.... Lou
I believe the only 2 non stops from SFO to HKG are United and Cathay. UAL uses the 747-400 and I believe Cathay now uses a 777. Even if Cathay used a 747, the odds are better that UAL would have the broken potty.... United would have been my guess too.
This reminds me of a story I once read about a woman getting stuck on a toilet seat when the pressure valve malfunctioned. Her (ahem) posterior became the "cork" that prevented the entire cabin from depressurizing.
You really believe that? The plastic ring and the cistern have a gap between them. That would prevent such a situation, even if it could happen. Further, you really think they depressurize a whole airliner cabin via the toilet?
I said it was a story. I didn't say that I necessarily believed it. Furthermore, I don't know what your last sentence means. Any leak will depressurize the cabin.
An old story from the first 707 days except that the first version had Wellwood Beal( Boeing VP) on the seat.
That's how Mythbusters added Kari Byron to their staff. They made soft mould of her 'bottom' and planted it on an airline toilet seat. Did the pressure thing, since it could not happen with the seat down; they put it right on the metal enclosure. Mythbusters was light years better with Kari and her bottom joining the show.
Last statement was reference to the fact that in order for there to be a leak, there would have to be an unobstructed path to the outside atmosphere through the liquid and solid in the waste tank, or a hole to the outside above the liquid and solid. That would result in some seriously cold body parts, and a lot of seriously nasty stuff sloshing out of the aircraft during banking.
Isn't that how it usually works? That episode was quite funny. Nothing like having your "rear" molded for POSTERIty!
