why do planes dim lights at takeoff when flying at night?

Answer 1

so that if the plane crashes, your eyes are used to the dark

Answer 2

To have more power during takeoff. At night they use more lights and try to distribute the power to the areas they need. They also dim the lights for the rest of the travel, so that passengers can stay calm and some of them even go to sleep during the flight, specially if its a long trip.

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with extra power or mpg. Planes don't even measure fuel burn like that. It is in lbs/hr. In most commercial airliners they have a separate generator just for the electricity and it has nothing to do with the jet engines that propel the plane. It makes good sense to me that if you are flying at night then people may want to sleep. It also tends to make it quiet. If you have ever walked into a room with several people with the lights on it would probably be loud because everyone is talking. If you dim the lights people tend to talk quieter and less. Just part of our nature I guess.

Answer 4

In addition to calming and relaxing passengers, they dim lights so people who are used to sleeping in the dark can.

Answer 5

The first answer is the closest, its also the same reason that they won't let you change seats until after takeoff. It makes identifying the bodies easier.

Answer 6

It probably calms the passengers during the dangerous and stressful event of taking off.

Sort of like a beekeeper who supplys smoke to a beehive when he works manually around the hive.

Answer 7

Because all the energy saved from the light bulbs being dim is transferred to the engine and it will fly for longer(20 mpg) , when the captain turns lights back on full the engines work harder for dynamo to power lights therefore reducing miles per gallon to around 15!. This saving help pay for the free peanuts you receive............................................................................ I am taking the mick!!!! jake