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Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

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Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#31

Post by seanmcdirmid »

asmithmd1 wrote: post #21
mikeash wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because, although it could bring down a plane, it's very likely not to. The fire will be detected quickly and then put out. Your question is sort of like asking, if an airliner can fly on one engine, why do they bother putting on two? The answer, quite simply, is robustness.

My point is that it is very unlikely anyone will try. There is exactly nothing stopping anyone from packing an airplane bathroom with alcohol soaked paper towels and lighting it on fire; and yet it has not ever happened. The TSA is a colossal waste of time and money - the more ways that it can be pointed out the better.

I don't like the TSA's approach either, but this isn't a very good argument. They stopped disallowing lighters on flights for this reason; they don't want to care about the small threats and focus on finding...you know...terrorists. The change hasn't soaked in completely yet, but their is hope they'll do the right thing eventually.

It would be fairly easy to put your fire out with a fire extinguisher. But I'd rather not fly with you anyways :)

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#32

Post by there »

Drbble wrote: post #29
nicholaides wrote: post #10

I was thinking about this same idea earlier today: Buses in Philadelphia have a bunch of "No Eating and Drinking" signs and consequently no trash cans. The result is that the back of the bus is covered in trash. If they had just 1 or two trash cans it would be a much more pleasant ride.

I have never seen a city bus with a trash can.

Chicago's CTA busses have garbage cans in front of the rear exit doors. But then again we also have alleys so we don't have to put our garbage out on the sidewalks.

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#33

Post by mkopinsky »

calinet6 wrote: post #11
kgermino wrote: post #6

It seems to be down now. Here's the text if it continues to not work: I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance to fly a lot over the past year or so. Working with Stephen Foskett and the rest of the Tech Field Day crew means that I’ve been to California almost every month. That’s a lot of flying. One of the things that I’ve noticed on my flights is that they don’t want you to smoke. You actually used to be able to s…

Or, have a gist. With images. https://gist.github.com/2766143

Or https://gist.github.com/2766323, including the final image as well

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#34

Post by MattRogish »

mdda wrote: post #27
kgermino wrote: post #6

It seems to be down now. Here's the text if it continues to not work: I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance to fly a lot over the past year or so. Working with Stephen Foskett and the rest of the Tech Field Day crew means that I’ve been to California almost every month. That’s a lot of flying. One of the things that I’ve noticed on my flights is that they don’t want you to smoke. You actually used to be able to s…

The airlines actually save money by preventing smoking : The air in the cabins needs to be recycled less often. The flip side, though, is that air-bourne diseases are more prevalent on flights now, since the air is rebreathed more often before filtering. Source : Qi series 1 (BBC UK).

Wrong: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealt...

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#35

Post by djeikyb »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #24

So in that case, we should put ashtrays in libraries, gas stations and everywhere, so we prevent fire?

Where I've lived, there are ash trays everywhere, not despite; because of laws prohibiting smoking in these areas. The idea is to provide a safe and convenient place to dispose of your cigarette now that you've entered a non-smoking area.

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#36

Post by [deleted] »

ricardobeat wrote: post #23
kgermino wrote: post #6

It seems to be down now. Here's the text if it continues to not work: I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance to fly a lot over the past year or so. Working with Stephen Foskett and the rest of the Tech Field Day crew means that I’ve been to California almost every month. That’s a lot of flying. One of the things that I’ve noticed on my flights is that they don’t want you to smoke. You actually used to be able to s…

CloudFlare caches seem to always fail when they are most needed.

[deleted]

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#37

Post by superuser2 »

ojbyrne wrote: post #4

Perhaps also because there are still airlines in the world (almost entirely in the Middle East and Africa) that still allow smoking.

Anecdotal evidence (the best kind!) - yes. A friend who went to the National Security Language Institute in Yemen last summer recalled several smoke-filled regional/commuter flights.

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#38

Post by raldi »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #31
asmithmd1 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point is that it is very unlikely anyone will try. There is exactly nothing stopping anyone from packing an airplane bathroom with alcohol soaked paper towels and lighting it on fire; and yet it has not ever happened. The TSA is a colossal waste of time and money - the more ways that it can be pointed out the better.

I don't like the TSA's approach either, but this isn't a very good argument. They stopped disallowing lighters on flights for this reason; they don't want to care about the small threats and focus on finding...you know...terrorists. The change hasn't soaked in completely yet, but their is hope they'll do the right thing eventually. It would be fairly easy to put your fire out with a fire extinguisher. But I'd rather…

Aren't matches still allowed?

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#39

Post by ars »

mdda wrote: post #27
kgermino wrote: post #6

It seems to be down now. Here's the text if it continues to not work: I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance to fly a lot over the past year or so. Working with Stephen Foskett and the rest of the Tech Field Day crew means that I’ve been to California almost every month. That’s a lot of flying. One of the things that I’ve noticed on my flights is that they don’t want you to smoke. You actually used to be able to s…

The airlines actually save money by preventing smoking : The air in the cabins needs to be recycled less often. The flip side, though, is that air-bourne diseases are more prevalent on flights now, since the air is rebreathed more often before filtering. Source : Qi series 1 (BBC UK).

How exactly do they save money by not recycling air?

You don't have to pay for air during flight - it comes from the outside air and is free, it's not canisters or something.

Re: Why airplane bathrooms have ashtrays

#40

Post by bdunbar »

raldi wrote: post #38
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't like the TSA's approach either, but this isn't a very good argument. They stopped disallowing lighters on flights for this reason; they don't want to care about the small threats and focus on finding...you know...terrorists. The change hasn't soaked in completely yet, but their is hope they'll do the right thing eventually. It would be fairly easy to put your fire out with a fire extinguisher. But I'd rather…

Aren't matches still allowed?

They were until you just mentioned it.
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