When Nature Calls in the Cabin, Be Prepared

Things can get messy if you don't have a plan for airsickness.

Martha Lunken

Wednesday, January 03, 2024 at 11:48 AM ET

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Airsickness bags are must-have items for the cockpit. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

The article addresses two common, often-undiscussed physiological challenges in aviation: airsickness and the need for urination, affecting everyone from new passengers to seasoned pilots.
To prevent airsickness, pilots should fly gently for new passengers and encourage early communication; post-incident cleanup involves specific methods like coffee grounds for odor, and nausea can also signal carbon monoxide poisoning.
Managing urination in general aviation requires pre-flight planning (e.g., limiting liquids) and practical, improvised solutions like bottles or cups due to the common lack of dedicated onboard facilities.

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I’m note sure this has been discussed in many aviation publications—especially one as eminent as FLYING—but, if you’ve been aviating for a while, you’re probably familiar with the challenges of biological as well as aeronautical functions. And, if you’re a brand-new pilot…well, I guarantee you will be. I don’t think it’s addressed extensively in the Aeronautical Information Manual or shows up as a test question, but it’s really practical information.

Airsickness (what my grandnieces call “the spits”) can happen to anybody—students, passengers, seasoned pilots, and even instructors and check airmen. There’s no surefire way to prevent it, but I have some stories, experiences, and suggestions to avoid it and, if necessary, deal with the subsequent mess.