Summary
Flight-type dishwashers—also called rackless conveyor systems—are the highest-capacity warewashing systems in foodservice. Designed for military dining, correctional facilities, stadiums, and massive commissaries, these systems eliminate racks entirely and move ware through continuous wash zones at industrial scale.
WHAT IS A FLIGHT-TYPE (RACKLESS) DISHWASHER?
A flight-type commercial dishwasher is a continuous-feed dishwashing system that moves ware using internal conveyor “flights” instead of racks. Dishes, trays, and utensils are placed directly onto the conveyor and carried through:
- Pre-wash
- Wash
- Rinse
- Final sanitizing
- Drying zones
Because there are no racks, flight machines eliminate:
- Rack handling labor
- Rack staging bottlenecks
- Rack storage space
- Misloading errors
They are engineered for constant, uninterrupted production.
BEST USE CASES FOR FLIGHT-TYPE SYSTEMS
Flight-type machines are used when no other system can handle the volume, including:
- Military dining facilities (DFACs)
- Federal training centers
- Prisons & correctional institutions
- Stadiums & arenas
- Convention centers
- Mega commissaries
- Disaster response feeding operations
They are NOT appropriate for:
- Restaurants
- Cafés
- Schools
- Hospitals without massive centralized tray operations
- Any facility without industrial utility capacity
HEAT VS CHEMICAL IN FLIGHT-TYPE SYSTEMS
High-Temp (Heat) Flight-Type (Most Common)
- Final rinse at 180°F
- Mandatory in most:
- Military
- Federal
- Correctional
- Simplest inspection validation
Requires:
- Massive booster heater capacity
- Extreme hot water recovery
- High electrical or gas input
Chemical Flight-Type (Rare)
- Used only when utilities cannot support heat
Requires:
- Continuous chemical injection
- Redundant ppm monitoring
- Heavy staff discipline
Higher inspection risk in secure facilities.
Use the Heat vs Chemical Decision Tool
TYPICAL CAPACITY & PERFORMANCE
These systems exist for extreme, sustained meal volume, not peak surges.
FLIGHT-TYPE IS A FULL SYSTEM — NOT JUST A DISHWASHER
Flight systems require a fully integrated infrastructure:
- High-speed tray return conveyors
- Automated scrap handling
- Multi-stage pulpers
- Waste dehydrators
- High-capacity grease interceptors
- Steam control & ventilation hoods
- Drainage trenches & floor sinks
- Dedicated drying zones
- Material handling conveyors
- Redundant water treatment
These systems function as dishroom production plants, not kitchen accessories.
UTILITIES REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT-TYPE SYSTEMS
Heat Sanitizing Utility Package (Typical)
- Industrial booster heater banks
- High-recovery hot water plant
- 480V electrical infrastructure
- Multiple indirect drains
- Steam control hood systems
- Dedicated water treatment & filtration
- High-flow make-up air
Chemical Utility Package (Only when unavoidable)
- Chemical room with redundancy
- Continuous ppm monitoring
- Backup injection pumps
- Emergency warewashing procedures
Check My Utility Feasibility
COMMON INSPECTION & OPERATIONAL FAILURES
Because scale is extreme, small mistakes become big failures:
- Steam control failure causing condensation & mold risk
- Waste system backing up under sustained load
- Incomplete pre-scrape causing soil buildup
- Inadequate final rinse temps across wide spray zones
- Drying zone overwhelmed by output rate
- Cross-traffic between dirty & clean ware
- Chemical ppm drifting unnoticed in rare low-temp systems
View Large-Scale Dishroom Inspection Defense Guide
PROS & CONS OF FLIGHT-TYPE DISHWASHERS
Pros
- Highest throughput available in foodservice
- Eliminates rack handling labor
- Fully continuous production
- Best option for massive tray operations
- Consistent wash quality at scale
Cons
- Extreme upfront cost
- Highest utility demand in foodservice
- Massive footprint
- Long installation timeline
- Requires professional engineering
- No flexibility for underutilized facilities
WHEN A FLIGHT-TYPE SYSTEM IS REQUIRED
A flight-type dishwasher is mandatory—not optional—when:
- You operate military DFACs or prisons
- You process thousands of trays per hour
- Meal service is concentrated into tight windows
- Rack handling is not operationally viable
- Labor availability is constrained
- Federal design criteria require rackless automation
MANUFACTURERS COMMONLY USED FOR FLIGHT-TYPE SYSTEMS
Top manufacturers in this category include:
- Meiko
- Hobart
- Champion
- Insinger
- Jackson
Manufacturer selection must be based on:
- Federal & military approvals
- Large-scale service network
- Engineering integration support
- Waste & conveyor compatibility
- Parts logistics at scale
View Dishwasher Manufacturers by Type
STAFF TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (FLIGHT-TYPE)
Training must be far more rigorous than smaller systems:
- Conveyor speed & flight timing
- Spray zone verification
- Temperature monitoring across zones
- Waste pulper/dehydrator operation
- Emergency shutdown procedures
- Drain flood response
- End-of-shift teardown & deliming
- Chemical verification (if applicable)
Download Flight-Type Training Program
SYSTEM UPGRADES THAT PROTECT FLIGHT-TYPE PERFORMANCE
- Dual-lane pulpers
- Automated waste conveyors
- Digital temp & zone monitoring
- Live ppm telemetry (chemical)
- Redundant boiler connections
- ADA-compliant manual warewash backup
These protect:
- Mission continuity
- Inspection readiness
- Labor efficiency
- Equipment lifespan
CONFIRM IF FLIGHT-TYPE IS REQUIRED
If You’re Even Considering a Flight-Type System, Your Volume Is Already at the Institutional Extreme
- Start the Dishwasher Selection Tool
- Take the Heat vs Chemical Quiz
- Request a Dishroom Engineering Assessment
Built by Aldevra, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business supporting federal agencies, healthcare systems, schools, and commercial kitchens nationwide with compliant, high-performance dishroom systems.
