airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

[Deviant Ollam]

So... while it is a pity that we are missing ToorCon i learned a few new things on the flight from Newark to Norway.

Many times i've noticed small knobs or pins on the very top and bottom of airplane bathroom doors that appear to be a means of springing the hinges off their track. I always assumed this was the method that flight attendants or other crew members would use to open up a locked door if the need arose.

It appears however that there is an even easier method to open the doors, at least on some model airlines. The small sign that says "lavatory" (or what have you) can be lifted up and reveal a small latch/lever that is directly connected to the throw bolt. Here's a video showing you how simple this mechanism is. (1.2 MB, XviD MPEG-4)

So let that be a lesson to you... if you're planning on being a part of the mile high club (caution: almost no airplane bathrooms are big enough for this to be easy unless at least one party is very skinny and/or flexible) or doing a bump at 30,000 feet that door isn't as secure as you may think.

The flight proved to be a blast all-around. Much of that is because of the alcohol fueling us due to security requirements in Denmark. The guy at the duty-free shop in Newark told us we shouldn't buy booze there since we couldn't take liquid to the end of our journey. We assured him that wouldn't be a problem. He really got a kick out of the fact that we wound up killing the whole bottle before we even departed EWR...

Heh, childish humor... but still a highlight of the flight...

And i totally deny the accusations that i popped open the lock to the liquor storage while waiting for the restroom...

And yes, to all our folks at ToorCon, we missed you all. Hikari, Tim, M, Geo, etc... sorry for not making it. Everyone else, raise a glass and think of us. We are there with you in spirit.

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

Just saying hi out there! Just remember, you are not in the land of $6 cokes. eep!

Oh yeah:

The flight proved to be a blast all-around. Much of that is because of the alcohol fueling us due to security requirements in Denmark.

Well, after finishing the Chopin we bought at bottle of Absolute, figuring that we would have to throw it away in Denmark. At security, we ditched the 1/3 (1/3 yes...we kind of went through that, too) full bottle. I go through security with a quick bag check. I have a full bottle of Sprite (filled withVodka) that they let me keep. We could have taken the liqour. boo!

SO: first off i wish we had video of the security point in Denmark. It has the freaking coolest mechanized in return of any security checkpoint ever. You put your stuff in standard security checkpoint bins. All units were automated on a moving mechanized metal roller system. Went through the standard x-ray stuff. You walk through the metal dector. Get your shit. And then leave the bin and the bin is weighed (found that out after getting gacked at by security) to see if it is empty, and sent back on a second layer of the conveyor to the start for other people to use.

[Greyhatter]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

How do you get away photoing such stuff? Shit, I'd nailed you both/All for your behavior and what is your Muslim alibi? If you'd just sell your wares you..could..work for???

[Greyhatter]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

How do you get away photoing such stuff? Shit, I'd nailed you both/All for your behavior and what is your Muslim alibi? If you'd just sell your wares you..could..work for???

The United States of America

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

Pictures coming soon 23b.org style.

[DaKahuna]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

BTW - the purpose of those hidden latches is so flight attendants can lock those doors as rquired by the FAA during takeoff and landing.

Am glad to see that if my calculations are correct, your total per person alcoholic intake exceeded that of mine on my flight from London to Dulles today. I only managed to consume one bottle of Shiraz, I simply told the flight attendant my intentions when she served me my pre-meal drink and she said okay and left the bottle with me.

I thing had two of the small bottles of Bailey's with coffee with the "afternoon tea" service about an hour before landing.

Of course I get the opportunity to repeat my IAD-LHR-IAD trip the end of the month.

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

I only managed to consume one bottle of Shiraz, I simply told the flight attendant my intentions when she served me my pre-meal drink and she said okay and left the bottle with me.

So what were your intentions?


Speaking of Bailey's: my favorite thing to do is get some iced coffee in the airport and get some Baily's added to it as soon as the drinks start going around.

[renderman]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

So what were your intentions?


Speaking of Bailey's: my favorite thing to do is get some iced coffee in the airport and get some Baily's added to it as soon as the drinks start going around.

Can one of you explain then where the bottle of baileys came from in my carry-on?

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

Can one of you explain then where the bottle of baileys came from in my carry-on?

Left over from Norway??? I would have raided your bag had i known it was there! We only bought the two giant vodka bottles...

[0x58]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

I knew about the little latch on the outside of the lavatories for the longest time. Ever since I started flying ... was not aware that this was something most people did not know about.

I know most of the steps they have to take to close/open the doors, I know exactly what the procedures are to let the pilots come out of their cockpit for bathroom breaks/switch offs on long flights, know how to look for the undercover agents, the steps that the stewardesses are supposed to take during take off/landing.

Paying attention ... it is not just for class anymore.

Oh, bringing a radio on board to listen to air traffic control is fun :D.

[DaKahuna]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

So what were your intentions?

Since I make it a practice of not to kiss and tell that information, my dear, shall remain between the stewardess and myself.





Actually - I simply informed her that I had every intention of drinking the entire bottle of Shiraz before trying to get some sleep.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

bringing a radio on board to listen to air traffic control is fun

what sort of a radio would be used? i see advice online recommending the range of 118.0 to 135.975 MHz. is that just a basic FM receiver operating outside of the normal entertainment radio frequencies?

[xor]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

what sort of a radio would be used? i see advice online recommending the range of 118.0 to 135.975 MHz. is that just a basic FM receiver operating outside of the normal entertainment radio frequencies?

Here ya go and have fun...

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf

Everything you ever wanted to know about frequency allocation and were afraid to ask. Don't try and print it out, it's big, very big.

xor

[Thorn]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

what sort of a radio would be used? i see advice online recommending the range of 118.0 to 135.975 MHz. is that just a basic FM receiver operating outside of the normal entertainment radio frequencies?

Nope. It's that frequency range, but is AM.

Older, so called "transistor" radios can be modified to listen to ATC transmissions. It's done but repositioning the FM band. Surprisingly, the AM transmissions are picked up, if you are in close proximity to the airport, probably because the intermediate stage doesn't have very good rejection, and the RF signal is so strong near the control tower.

MAKE Vol. 09, page 27 has instructions on how to do it. It's actually a very simple hardware hack, requiring nothing more than a small screwdriver.

Of course, if you really want to listen to this stuff other than within 1000 feet from the tower or inside the passenger cabin of a commercial airliner, you can buy specific aircraft band receivers. Rat Shack used to sell a pocket sized receiver, and you can probably still find them eBay or the like. A lot of shortwave receivers also have the aircraft band. e.g. the Grundig G6 Aviator, which gets AM/FM, aircraft band and shortwave.

[Cranial]

Re: airplane bathroom locks (and greetings from Norway)

BTW - the purpose of those hidden latches is so flight attendants can lock those doors as rquired by the FAA during takeoff and landing.

Also to help release the frail/confused who require assistance, and to externally lock the door of an unserviceable lavatory as required by civil aviation authorities. (Locking it out is so much more pleasant than fixing a blocked Lav).