Window Shades Up Or Down?

That question from a cousin is, I think, worth sharing here. “Why are some airliners asking us to put the window shades up during take-off and landing?”

My quick answer was: “for whatever reason, just do it”!

Actually, there are reasons why the crew might request you to open or close the window shades, depending on which segment of the flight you are. But during take-offs and landings they would usually ask you to open the shades. That is still to give you more safety, comfort or convenience.

Let’s dissect them…

As you would have probably known, take-offs and landings are the most crucial moments of any airline flight. Probable reason why everybody falls silent during those times? Didn’t you notice?!

So bakit nga?!

Here goes:

They ask us to open the window shades during take-off and landing so that the orientation of our eyes inside the cabin approximates that of the outside environment. That means all human eyes! Both yours and those of the cabin crew! Why? So that, during an emergency, it will be easy for everyone to assess the outside environment without need for squinting or waiting for the iris to adjust. Why? So that if everyone has to be asked to make an emergency evacuation from the plane, no one will have a hard time assessing the terrain or situation of that area to which they are to jump to.

Why? does it matter? Of course it does! During emergencies, seconds and milliseconds always count. You cannot allow yourself to be waiting a few seconds or even a minute until your eyes become familiar with the surroundings. It’s a “jump-now” or “don’t-jump-now” decision that everyone has to make, to save not only their lives but also those of other passengers and crew.

So, there is a reason… and that always means… your safety!

Now, now… during flight (especially on international flights) if the crews ask you to close those shades, you could most probably be cruising along a sunny part of the route but they have to show a movie or video. Thus, you must oblige and close those blinds for everyone to have a good view of whatever is being shown.

I know that many of these crews do not even understand the reasons behind why they have to do what they do. All that you'll hear from them is that "it is a Civil Aviation Regulation" etc etc!

Another cousin butts in and says… “but why doesn’t Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines care if my window shades are up or down during take-off?”. The answer to that is simple so be calm…! That probably means you are on a late evening or very early morning flight where darkness pervades on the outside of the aircraft. And you hear them saying “we will now dim the cabin lights prior to take-off… “.

There is one misnomer though. The announcement will continue to “if you wish, you can press the reading lights above you…” and so on. DON’T DO THAT! The best way is to stop reading. Why? Because you don’t want your eyes to be accustomed to bright light and seconds later (during emergencies that is), you will have a hard time adjusting your eyesight to the real visibility conditions outside of the aircraft.

So let’s make that simple, your eyes should always be oriented to (or have an approximation of) the outside lighting conditions of the aircraft cabin. So that, during emergencies, you don’t have to squint or grapple because you can’t see or are having a hard time in the darkness or glare outside of the aircraft.

Have a safe flight!