From AVweb reader Mark Cheplowitz:
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long IFR cross-country flight and my right seat passenger/pilot suddenly had a “neeeed to peeee” (apologies to Top Gun “need for speed”).
I notified ATC that we needed to divert. When he asked for the reason, I said, “potty emergency.”
Realizing I used the E-word, I quickly rekeyed the mic, “But I’m not declaring anything!”
We heard a few mic clicks on the frequency.
Very poor flight planning! Take a couple of empty plastic bottles or used water bottles in case.
Quick thinking… and I’m certain the controllers appreciated that you provided some comic relief!
Some passengers I’ve had would rather ‘have an accident’ than use a pee bottle. Planning is important, but the best laid plans…
I was over Bakersfield one night at 12,000 feet when my passenger declared he needed to pee. After descending as fast as I could without breaking eardrums the passenger leaped from the Twin Comanche and hurriedly lit up a cigarette before he looked for the bathroom. Biological priorities.
I tell ATC “for passenger comfort”. However, it doesn’t generate any excitement like the “E” word. I did threaten to tell ATC one time that I need to divert “for noise abatement”. If they questioned that motive I was going to tell them that there was a lot of noise coming from the right seat. My wife promptly promised to kill me if I did…after we landed.
Many moons ago, I was doing my 300nm IFR cross country. After going missed at my first airport, my CFI announced he had a “potty emergency”.
I suggested that the 3 pound Chock Full of Nuts coffee can that I kept in the baggage compartment of my Cherokee might be a way out of our predicament.
He climbed in the back, took care of business, and we continued, successfully, on our way