Only In Japan

    
 

In an attempt to reduce carbon emissions from aircrafts, airlines across the world have been implementing new policies and technological strategies. Those of you who have traveled by air recently may have noticed the absence of some of the simple courtesy items you’ve grown accustomed to receiving. Items such as magazines, blankets, and dare I say it, the little back-of-the-chair TV screens, are no longer available on many domestic and international flights. But you can tolerate that right? I mean, it’s for a good cause, that is at least if you buy into the greenhouse effect and global warming. I’m not saying whether I do or don’t, as I’m not trying to spark a heated debate here, but what I do want to do is inform you of a new policy that has been put into effect by the Japanese Airline All Nippon Airways (ANA).

On the 1^st October, ANA staff began greeting passengers near boarding gates and petitioning them to use the restrooms to “relieve” themselves before boarding their flights. The logic behind this strange request, according to airline officials, is that passengers could potentially lower the weight of the aircraft by emptying their bladders; that in turn would decrease the amount of fuel used, and consequently result in the reduction of carbon emissions.

The following excerpt from ABC News reported that “the human bladder can hold up to 16 ounces before the urge to urinate. That’s about 1.1 pounds of fluid. If all 216 passengers on an ANA Boeing 767 had pretty full bladders, that extra urine would weigh about 240 pounds.”

I guess it makes sense, based on the statistics mentioned above, to assume that ANA’s new policy might actually work. But that’s also assuming that every single passenger has a full bladder before boarding the plane; what if most passengers typically relieve themselves before flying? Well, I guess time will tell, but for now, ANA has intentions of trialing the policy for four weeks, and possibly longer depending on how well it is received by passengers.

So there you have it, Japan once again leading the way in all things “innovative.” Oh, and incidentally, a certain radio personality suggested that stripping the paint off the planes would probably work equally well, if not better.