You might not be farting (a more technical term is ‘High Altitude Flatus Expulsion’) on the plane, but everyone else is!
I’m told some flight attendants refer to the smell as ‘Eau de Boeing’.
Why It Happens
Basically on a plane flying at 10,000 m the air is only pressurised to 2,000 – 3,000m altitude rather than sea level..
If you have ever taken a bag of potato crisps on a plane you will see the pack which has been manufactured with air at sea level is now ‘inflated’ as tight as a drum.
Well the same applies with the gases in your gut, which makes you more likely to fart and feel bloated.
What Can You Do?
Prevention methods include:
- Drinking water rather than carbonated drinks or beer.
- Avoiding salty and fatty foods.
- Moving around and perhaps making an extra toilet visit
- A non prescription anti-gas medication .
Holding back a fart can lead to discomfort, pain, more bloating, and a final ‘explosive result’.
A little fart shouldn’t be too much of a problem as aircraft ventilation systems pull air from the ceiling to extraction point in the floor, away from sensitive noses!
Anyway everyone else has the same problem.
