Aircraft Cabin Lights

[tel69]

Why are the cabin lights taken off during take off and landing? Also why do they ask for the window blinds to be kept open during take off/landing?

[SteveD]

This was asked fairly recently (but I can't find it again).

 

Basically, it seems that, when an aircraft takes off or lands at night, the cabin lights are dimmed so that the passengers' eyes will be accustomed to the dark in case of an emergency situation.

 

The window blinds are kept open to allow the maximum amountof light to enter the cabin in case of failure of the electric lighting.

 

[neilnewsh]

The blinds I don't know but the lights are off because as the plane takes off and lands the rough conditions would make the lights flicker on and off which is pointless and would just cause unnecessary stress.  word

[Clanad]

As answered previously, the blinds need to be up in the event of a mishap on landing or take-off requiring evacuation, the flight attendants could assess which side of the aircraft would be safe to exit.  They would be able to see debris, fire or other dangers on the outside of the aircraft. Additionally, if you notice, only the overhead lights are turned off.  Your reading lights are still available. The reason is that the emergency lighting system, which comes on automatically in a crash, is more readily visibile with the brighter cabin lighting dimmed.  The emergency lighting includes the red exit lights, cabin lighting and the lights on the floor or seat sides that lead to emergency exits.  You do read the seat back safety card and listen to the safety briefing don't you?

[crafty]

I thought that they turned the lights off so that people cannot blow the planes up with surface to air missiles. Its more difficult to hit a plane when its landing / coming into land with a mortar grenade at night when u cannot make out the full shape of the plane.

[netibiza]

I always read my safety leaflet, I know all the exits, and floor lights, but never in my 35 yrs of travelling have I heard that window blinds should be up on take - off. If I'm in a window seat, I always lower the blind until just after take-off as I cannot stand to see the ground slip away. I feel really bad about it now, I just didn't know and no one has ever said.