Preparing for a XC : Bathroom Breaks

I've mastered fuel management now the hardest part. How to manage mine and
my wife's bathroom breaks. Our trips are typically 3 to 3.5 hours but our
blatters don't always make it thus forci6ng a stop. Thats a big 30 min
addition to the trip. On my last filight I filed two flight plans and then
called ATC to open the next flight plan when we felt we could make it all
the way without the stop. Seemed to work.

Any suggestions on preflight preparations that have worked for others ? No
coffee before the flight ? No liquids xxx hours before leaving etc. etc.
Sort of like preparing for an operations.

Thanks.
Holding it in

"TF" wrote in message
. ..

Any suggestions on preflight preparations that have worked for others ? No
coffee before the flight ? No liquids xxx hours before leaving etc. etc. Sort
of like preparing for an operations.

Dehydration gives no warning and can seriously degrade your pilot skills
just when you need them most. Drink normally and use piddle packs to extend
your range if you really don't want to land. Some glider pilots make their own
with freezer bags and the gel that is found in some diapers. There are also
products made to accommodate the female anatomy.

On the other hand, having a desperate urge to pee and no place to do it can
also degrade your performance. Always have a plan. On my little x-country
flights, I always pack a bottle of water. It is always nice to have the water
should I happen to get thirsty, but In a pinch that bottle could be very useful!

Vaughn

Vaughn Simon writes:

Dehydration gives no warning and can seriously degrade your pilot skills
just when you need them most.

Dehydration most certainly does give a warning: thirst. If you get
thirsty, drink. If you're not thirsty, you're not dehydrated. You
won't dehydrate enough in three hours to have any effect on your
flying ability unless it is extraordinarily hot inside the aircraft.
Make sure you are hydrated before the flight and you'll be fine.

On the other hand, having a desperate urge to pee and no place to do it can
also degrade your performance.

Much more so than the subclinical dehydration that might occur on a
short flight of three hours.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:

If you're not thirsty, you're not dehydrated.

Well, you may get thirsty before dehydrating while playing with your joy
stick, but people who work and play in hot climates know that that is
not true. Physiologists know that dehydration can precede thirst. The
military knows it in training troops. Pro sports teams know it. Serious
hikers know it. All plan appropriate water consumption based on planned
fluid losses, not thirst. You also imply in another post in this thread
that the kidneys won't make urine if one is dehydrated:
"If your flight is three hours, typically by the
time the stuff you drink on board starts to find its way to your
kidneys (if it does--it won't if you truly need the hydration)..."

That's not so either, unless you're going into shock. Try not making
bold statements on health issues. You are obviously not qualified.

RomeoMike writes:

Well, you may get thirsty before dehydrating while playing with your joy
stick, but people who work and play in hot climates know that that is
not true.

I was born and raised in a desert. You get thirsty when you get
dehydrated; it is an extremely reliable indicator of dehydration.

Physiologists know that dehydration can precede thirst.

Only under very unusual circumstances of rapid water loss, which are
not likely to ever occur while flying a general aviation aircraft.
Essentially, you have to be vomiting, urinating, experiencing
diarrhea, or perspiring profusely to dehydrate that rapidly. None of
these is very probable in an aviation context.

The military knows it in training troops. Pro sports teams know it. Serious
hikers know it.

None of them are pilot GA aircraft, however, and there is no
comparison. You're no more likely to dehydrate significantly in an
aircraft than in a car.

All plan appropriate water consumption based on planned
fluid losses, not thirst.

Only when TBW losses are expected to be extremely rapid. That does
not apply to general aviation.

You also imply in another post in this thread
that the kidneys won't make urine if one is dehydrated:

They will concentrate as much as they can. If dehydration is extreme,
however, they will go into acute renal failure. Again, however, this
is never likely to occur in an aviation context.

If it burns when you urinate, that's one sign that you are seriously
dehydrated. A simple test is to make sure your bladder fills every
3-5 hours, and check to make sure that your urine is not brightly
colored. If it is lightly colored and you urinate at least with this
frequency, it's unlikely that you are significantly dehydrated.

That's not so either, unless you're going into shock.

It's normal physiology.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:
RomeoMike writes:

Well, you may get thirsty before dehydrating while playing with your joy
stick, but people who work and play in hot climates know that that is
not true.

I was born and raised in a desert. You get thirsty when you get
dehydrated; it is an extremely reliable indicator of dehydration.

Physiologists know that dehydration can precede thirst.

Only under very unusual circumstances of rapid water loss, which are
not likely to ever occur while flying a general aviation aircraft.
Essentially, you have to be vomiting, urinating, experiencing
diarrhea, or perspiring profusely to dehydrate that rapidly. None of
these is very probable in an aviation context.

The military knows it in training troops. Pro sports teams know it. Serious
hikers know it.

None of them are pilot GA aircraft, however, and there is no
comparison. You're no more likely to dehydrate significantly in an
aircraft than in a car.

All plan appropriate water consumption based on planned
fluid losses, not thirst.

Only when TBW losses are expected to be extremely rapid. That does
not apply to general aviation.

You also imply in another post in this thread
that the kidneys won't make urine if one is dehydrated:

They will concentrate as much as they can. If dehydration is extreme,
however, they will go into acute renal failure. Again, however, this
is never likely to occur in an aviation context.

If it burns when you urinate, that's one sign that you are seriously
dehydrated. A simple test is to make sure your bladder fills every
3-5 hours, and check to make sure that your urine is not brightly
colored. If it is lightly colored and you urinate at least with this
frequency, it's unlikely that you are significantly dehydrated.

That's not so either, unless you're going into shock.

It's normal physiology.

Well, it's normal that normal physiology is normal, but you don't know
what that normal is.
I'm not going to address your ignorance further for the same reasons
that others have given up on you. I only responded to suggest to anyone
interested in the topic that they not take those statements of yours
that I quoted as factual. They should go read an authoritative source
about a topic that can be vitally important to some. As for you, who has
never even had a flying lesson let alone piloted a plane, you even have
the hubris to suggest to an ex-fighter pilot how to recover from a
stall. LOL

On Jan 24, 8:33 pm, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:
.... Dehydration gives no warning and can seriously degrade your pilot skills just
when you need them most. Drink normally and use piddle packs to extend
your range if you really don't want to land.

Vaughn,
I agree. Here is the link to this Plane & Pilot magazine article:

" Flying High & Dry- Why the FAA has added pilot dehydration to the
list of flight hazards"

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/cont.../high_dry.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/2ge2c2

I'm quoting some important facts below
" Dehydration also contributes to fuzzy thinking, poor
decision-making, dizziness and muscle fatigue"
"Dehydration symptoms go beyond thirst"

We drink nothing but water several hours before flying. A visit
to the bathroom then the water cooler is part of our preflight
activity. A water bottle is a must-have item for all flights. For
long cross-country flights, we bring along snacks and of course the
little red jug & piddle packs to extend our range when needed.

On Jan 25, 11:01 am, "Longworth" wrote:
On Jan 24, 8:33 pm, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:

.... Dehydration gives no warning and can seriously degrade your pilot skills just
when you need them most. Drink normally and use piddle packs to extend
your range if you really don't want to land. Vaughn,
I agree. Here is the link to this Plane & Pilot magazine article:

" Flying High & Dry- Why the FAA has added pilot dehydration to the
list of flight hazards"

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/cont.../high_dry.html
orhttp://tinyurl.com/2ge2c2

I'm quoting some important facts below
" Dehydration also contributes to fuzzy thinking, poor
decision-making, dizziness and muscle fatigue"
"Dehydration symptoms go beyond thirst"

We drink nothing but water several hours before flying. A visit
to the bathroom then the water cooler is part of our preflight
activity. A water bottle is a must-have item for all flights. For
long cross-country flights, we bring along snacks and of course the
little red jug & piddle packs to extend our range when needed.


This link has some information as seen from the soaring community.

http://w3.gwis.com/~mks/safety.htm#D...ND%20FA TIGUE


Ben Jeffrey

Vaughn Simon wrote:
"TF" wrote in message
. ..

Any suggestions on preflight preparations that have worked for
others ? No coffee before the flight ? No liquids xxx hours before
leaving etc. etc. Sort of like preparing for an operations.

Dehydration gives no warning and can seriously degrade your pilot
skills just when you need them most. Drink normally and use piddle
packs to extend your range if you really don't want to land. Some
glider pilots make their own with freezer bags and the gel that is
found in some diapers. There are also products made to accommodate
the female anatomy.
On the other hand, having a desperate urge to pee and no place to
do it can also degrade your performance. Always have a plan. On my
little x-country flights, I always pack a bottle of water. It is
always nice to have the water should I happen to get thirsty, but In
a pinch that bottle could be very useful!
Vaughn

http://www.flyana.com/dehydration.html

In article ,
"TF" wrote:
Any suggestions on preflight preparations that have worked for others ? No
coffee before the flight ? No liquids xxx hours before leaving etc. etc.
Sort of like preparing for an operations.

Do not drink anything later than one-hour prior to flight.
Immediately prior to departure, go to the toilet and clear out whatever
you have.
For 3-3.5 hour legs, wait until one-hour prior to arrival before
drinking. When you do drink, drink only water and only in small sips.
You should then be able to make it to your destination before the urge
for relief hits.