Air NZ From New Zealand, joined Jun 2001, 227 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6006 times:
I had a friend fly on Singapore Airlines recently. Auckland - Singapore - India - Singapore - Auckland.
They said that before takeoff in the brief from the flight attendants, when they were saying seats in upright position tray tables away, they were also told to open their window.
She said that this was enforced because someone had it shut and they were told to open their window.
Why is this that you need to have it open on takeoff. I know that on overnight flights they ask you to shut them so people can get sleep. Is this just so people can see the takeoff?
I suggested that it will allow you to see if the plane is crashing as a joke, or if the engine is on fire. Or if you have a heat seeking missile chasing you.
Dinker225 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 1049 posts, RR: 20 Reply 1, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5943 times:
As far as I know it is incase of an accident you can see the surroundings of the plane to see if that side is safe to exit. I could be wrong though.
Dinker
Two rules in aviation, don't hit anything and don't run out of gas, cause if you run out of gas yer gonna hit something.
N757KW From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 425 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5935 times:
I have heard it is a safety issue. But I could not quote any reqirement though.
"What we've got here, is failure to communicate." from Cool Hand Luke
Captaink From Mexico, joined May 2001, 5093 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5862 times:
BWIA West Indies Airways has the same procedure. It is included in the announcement where passengers are told to ensure their seat back and tray table are in the upright and locked position, seat belts securely fastened and your window shades are up. This is done before takeoff and landing.
I was quite eager to read this post though, cause it sounded like a window in the aircraft was actually open. eg the cockpit window or something. I was relieved to see it was the window shades that were being discussed.
Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2561 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5846 times:
Didnt TWA do the same thing? Its a safety thing among some airlines I guess...
LV From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 1816 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5817 times:
Yes, TWA required it. I asked a TWA FA once why they required this and she told me it is so the FAs can look for potential ground hazards during taxi
Air NZ From New Zealand, joined Jun 2001, 227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5819 times:
Sorry Captaink about it not being clear. After posting I thought hmm probably should have made the question a bit better.
Would be quite funny though. "Please make sure that your windows are open just encase you don't feel the plane will get off the ground, crash, you are scared of flying, the person beside you is your worst enemy, if you are a kid and think flapping your arms will help the plane fly!!!"
ElPelon From Mexico, joined Jul 2003, 127 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5787 times:
AM and some other airlines do the same thing.. Once I asked that to the F/A and she told me that is a safety procedure.. This is because sometimes the pax can notice if something is going wrong, like an engine in fire or something like that.
regards
Air NZ From New Zealand, joined Jun 2001, 227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5781 times:
And just for clearness Captaink I changed the subject line. Lol
Thanks for the response guys. I can now go and tell my friend and claim I ain't a plane nerd or anything I just love them and think they are really cool.
JetMARC From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 517 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5769 times:
I know a few airlines that do, but my airline doesn't require you to... I assume its because you're not gonna look out the window anyways to get out unless you're in an exit row - the window shades on the OWWE are operate opposite of other cabin windows - meaning you pull them up to close them and lower them to open, I suppose to allow room for the exit opening hatch mechanism and should the impact be substantial, the inertia would lower the window shade automatically (thus possibly lowering all the other shades throughout the cabin)...
"Sucka, I'm gonna send you out on Knuckle Airlines. Fist Class!!" ~ Mr. T
NWAA330 From United States of America, joined Jun 2003, 201 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5749 times:
I have seen this rule enforced before and I have been told numerous times that it is done for the following reasons.
1) So the FA's can see any problems that may arise.
2) In case of an emergency evacuation passengers need to be able to see whats happening outside, should there be a fire or other hazard.
3) To allow extra light into the cabin should interior lights fail due to emergency situation.
Gamps From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 469 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5741 times:
Same is the case even during landing.
The explanation I received is, this is to adjust our eyes to the external condition (sunny, dark) etc - so if something bad happens and passenger need to evacuate they can easily adjust to outside conditions. Also note that they (SQ) dim the lights of the cabin while landing and takeoff so that our eyes can adjust - atleast they did so during my flights with them.
Salina Chan From Singapore, joined Jul 2001, 123 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5559 times:
Gamps:
i think dimming the cabin lights is a requirement or at least widely used in the industry when take off or landing take place in the dark.
Not only did i notice it on SQ but on FR, AC, UA and more
Although, the use of the reading lights is allowed, which would spoil your gained night vision again
Asianguy767 From Singapore, joined Oct 2003, 263 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 5265 times:
As a FA, the reasons the window shades must be up during take off and landing is so that in event of engine fire or smoke then passengers can alert the FAs who will in turn alert the pilots. As pilots cant see everything during the take off and sometimes nothing is indicated in the cockpit. Also, if part of the flaps tear or any other peculiar thing that may happen then passengers are the eyes. In the event of an evacuation having the window shades up also allow passengers to see the outside conditions and adjust accordingly, for eg if there's a fire on that end then don't run to that exit but another.
Zak From Greenland, joined Sep 2003, 1993 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 5153 times:
friends of me flew frankfurt-> korea -> hawaii just 1 month ago+return. they were, on both night + day time legs, not allowed to have the window shutters up.
the FA's told them they MUST keep it down for the whole flight, and had to do so on all 4 flights. when they put it up during flight a FA came immediately and told them to shut them. this was korean airlines btw.
this really makes me avoid that airline at all costs, not even talking about their not so good safety ranking.
does anyone know other airlines with such a stupid shutter down policy? cause i want to avoid them at all costs.
Airman99o From Canada, joined Aug 1999, 969 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5066 times:
Skyservice airlines does it as well.
Some passengers ask and I tell them it is so we can see out the window to assess conditions in opening exits in an emergency. Some people get this look of terror, which I find amusing, and open it as fast as possible. and some people you have to fight with to open them
OB1783P From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 325 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5016 times:
There is also that odd large slot in the mid-cabin bulkhead of the 777 that has to be open during take off and landing, presumably to improve sight lines for the flight attendants.
I've flown thousands of miles and I can tell you it's a lot safer than crossing the street!
iYou are asked to raise your shade so you can see through the window. Not for the view, but to help you remain oriented (which way is up, etc.) if there's an accident. Further, it lets you see what hazards exist outside (fires, debris and such), which would be important during an evacuation. Additionally it lets light into the cabin and makes it easier for rescuers to see inside.
Dimming the lights helps your eyes adjust to darkness, so if anything happens and it goes dark, you're not suddenly blind while dashing for the exits. Also it makes the emergency path/exit lights more visible. These might be the only lights you see in an emergency. And as with the shades, it allows you to see outside for orientation. With the cabin lights burning brightly, the glare would make this impossible.
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