Curiosity about plane take-off and landing?

Question

Hello, I have travelled several times by plane, but I haven't been able to find an answer to this curiosity of mine yet: does anybody know why lights are switched off during take-off and landing? Thank you. Have a nice day.

Answer 1

I like Sarah's sensible answer too. But how can she be right if KNOWALL is right? It seems by his attitude that he is able to sift through all the crap answers and arrive at the truth ahead of everyone else

Answer 2

There are two reasons for this.
1) To maximise the power from the engines as the generators are run from them.
2) If in an emergency the exit lights and emergeny lights will be visible for the passengers to see. These are the lights that direct the people to the exits. Sometimes they are just glow in the dark strips on the floor other times they are actuall lights on the floor.

Sarah C Answer is incorrect because if you are doing a short trip where time difference does not apply they still do it. I am a technician so we are trained to know thee things

Answer 3

Only during the hours of darkness.
It is because (you are gonna LOVE this), if the plane crashes, it is most likely to do so either taking off, or landing. If it does crash, the chances are very high that electrical systems would fail, so if the lights were on, they would go off.
If the lights were on, and suddenly went off, it would be several minutes before you could see properly (like when you go outside at night, or put the light out in your bedroom), and that few minutes could be crucial.
If the lights are off, then your eyes adjust to the dark, so you would see better if you needed to get out in a hurry in the dark.
How is that?

Answer 4

The lights are always dimmed for take offs and landings in the hours of darkness so that if you did have to evacuate the aircraft your eyes are more adjusted to the conditions around you. Hope that satisfies your curiosity! P.s Im an air hostess!

Answer 5

When aircraft are taking off and landing they are in close proximity to other aircraf so they turn the lights down so that the navigation lights on the aircraft are clearly visible and cannot be confused with cabin lights !
As for the other answers iv'e never heard so much crap in my life !
PS the lights are not turned off the emergency lights illuminate the gangway and show the way to the emergency exits .

Answer 6

To normalise passengers to the local time, the same reason window blinds are raised.

Also, supposedly, blinds are raised so if the plane crashes rescuers can tell from looking in how many fatalities there are. Eek.

Answer 7

They tell you during the safety announcements - it's done to preserve your night vision. What I've never understood is why they then tell you that if you want to continue reading then you'll find a reading lamp over your seat - so you can eliminate your night vision with that.

Answer 8

You want to hear something stupid? Studies show that people are more docile in dimmer lighting. Not only do you get to see all of the lighted signs in front of you more clearly and any videos about safety, but they do it to relax you.

Answer 9

I don't know.I'll have to see why when i gte on a plane to go on a cruise. I'll contact you and tell you why!You're going to have to wait until Feburary though! Unless somebody else knows why!!!
You have a nice day too!
~*Alyssa*~

Answer 10

it is for communication purposes. Just like your personal game boy and such. The extra electricity from the cabin can cause static over the radio.