FAs ... does airplane ice come from the on-board water tanks?
Apr 25, 2002, 12:55 pm
#16
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letiole,
Did any of the FA give you a hard time about this project? It wouldn't surprise me if some senior airline management people would not want someone (admitedly a kid) finding health risks with their water supply.
cnk
Did any of the FA give you a hard time about this project? It wouldn't surprise me if some senior airline management people would not want someone (admitedly a kid) finding health risks with their water supply.
cnk
Apr 25, 2002, 12:57 pm
#17
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Liz:
The ice is boarded in clear plastic bags with "United Airlines" written on them. Where the ice is obtained...I have no clue. The galley faucet is from the potable water source.</font>
The ice is boarded in clear plastic bags with "United Airlines" written on them. Where the ice is obtained...I have no clue. The galley faucet is from the potable water source.</font>
Apr 25, 2002, 6:01 pm
#18
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If memory serves, the water is clorinated and filtered.
Apr 25, 2002, 7:34 pm
#19
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by letiole:
Yeah, I thought about the ice obviously being already on board after I wrote the topic. On long hauls though I thought perhaps they made more ice. The FAs let my son store is ice bags for chilling his samples in their freezer so I thought maybe there is ice-making capabilities...snip
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Yeah, I thought about the ice obviously being already on board after I wrote the topic. On long hauls though I thought perhaps they made more ice. The FAs let my son store is ice bags for chilling his samples in their freezer so I thought maybe there is ice-making capabilities...snip
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Very interesting thread you started!!
Apr 25, 2002, 10:13 pm
#20
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Liz wrote:
Is this a different source than the one for the water that flows from the lav faucets?
Thanks for all the replies. I read somewhere too that water on airlines was treated, but that didn't stop his samples from testing positive for fecal coliform and one had E. coli. Other bacteria showed up as well - could be anything - but this test only discriminated for E. coli, general coliform and fecal coliform.
The FAs didn't know what he was doing. I really need him to start his thread on this so he can explain it all better, but he brought along alcohol to sterilize his equipment, a filtering apparatus, broth for the bacteria to feed on, Petri dishes, forceps, etc. as well as ice bags to keep the samples chilled until he could get to the hotel to test. He had 24 hours from the time he collected to run the test or the temp would be wrong. So on the planes he simply collected the samples before landing and then ran the test at the hotel. They then needed up to 72 hours to incubate. His main priority on the trips was keeping everything sterile and at the right temp.
Port Douglas water at the resort we stayed tested extremely high for fecal coliform so it wasn't too surprising that the tank water on planes flying out of Cairns had high counts too.
I think my son's hoping that this will be an on-going experiment and maybe FTers flying into the Bay Area from various places will be willing to collect water samples and we can meet them at the airport and collect them and test.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 04-25-2002).]
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The galley faucet is from the potable water source. </font>
Thanks for all the replies. I read somewhere too that water on airlines was treated, but that didn't stop his samples from testing positive for fecal coliform and one had E. coli. Other bacteria showed up as well - could be anything - but this test only discriminated for E. coli, general coliform and fecal coliform.
The FAs didn't know what he was doing. I really need him to start his thread on this so he can explain it all better, but he brought along alcohol to sterilize his equipment, a filtering apparatus, broth for the bacteria to feed on, Petri dishes, forceps, etc. as well as ice bags to keep the samples chilled until he could get to the hotel to test. He had 24 hours from the time he collected to run the test or the temp would be wrong. So on the planes he simply collected the samples before landing and then ran the test at the hotel. They then needed up to 72 hours to incubate. His main priority on the trips was keeping everything sterile and at the right temp.
Port Douglas water at the resort we stayed tested extremely high for fecal coliform so it wasn't too surprising that the tank water on planes flying out of Cairns had high counts too.
I think my son's hoping that this will be an on-going experiment and maybe FTers flying into the Bay Area from various places will be willing to collect water samples and we can meet them at the airport and collect them and test.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 04-25-2002).]
Apr 25, 2002, 10:39 pm
#21
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
I once had to write a letter to UA about a FA who was throwing the bags of ice on the floor to break up the ice. The FA would then lay the dirty bag into the clean ice and slide the bag off. Needless to say, I did not have drinks that day.</font>
I once had to write a letter to UA about a FA who was throwing the bags of ice on the floor to break up the ice. The FA would then lay the dirty bag into the clean ice and slide the bag off. Needless to say, I did not have drinks that day.</font>
Apr 25, 2002, 11:28 pm
#22
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by letiole:
I have been on some Atlantic Coast CRJs that have those signs that say not to drink the water. The UA planes with little cups in the lav, however, would suggest it's OK.
</font>
I have been on some Atlantic Coast CRJs that have those signs that say not to drink the water. The UA planes with little cups in the lav, however, would suggest it's OK.
</font>
Apr 26, 2002, 7:32 am
#23
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
[BThis is what I was going to say. Haven't you ever see the FAs pounding away with the mini sledgehammer as you board![/B]</font>
[BThis is what I was going to say. Haven't you ever see the FAs pounding away with the mini sledgehammer as you board!
[/B]</font>
Apr 26, 2002, 9:34 am
#24
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I always watch and follow what the flight attendants do. They drink bottled water, this should tell you something. I've alway wondered about planes flying in from Asia or Africa and turned around for use as a domestic flight. All waste from International flights is incinerated period, but where are the water tanks filled?
Nov 1, 2002, 9:01 am
#25
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More on the water here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/005952.html
And here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/005273.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/015343.html
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-01-2002).]
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/005952.html
And here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/005273.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/015343.html
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-01-2002).]