When travelling on commercial flights, why are the cabin lights turned off during "take off and landing", and is this a legal requirement?
2007-02-16 08:51:08 · 4 answers · asked by JOHN B 7 in Travel ➔ Air Travel
During the day it's not a requirement that the lights be off. HOWEVER at night time, its FAA reg. that "the cabin lighting conditions must match those of the outside conditions." And the reason behind this is so you aren't blinded in the event of an emergency. Going from a well lit cabin to the darkness of night would blind you temporialy and that could be the difference between life and death. So....hope that answers your question.
2007-02-17 06:00:39 · answer #1 · answered by camdfw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi John,
It is a legal requirement for all commercial flights to have lights dimmed and shutters closed when take-off or landing or flying over residential areas. It is to help with light pollution in the same way as most aircraft now have silencers on the turbine engines to help combat noise pollution.
If someone refuses to either open or close the shuuters on the window at the request of cabin crew they can be fined upto £1000. the same fine airlines recieve if they take off or land from airports near residential areas, like heathrow, after 11pm or before 6am.
2007-02-16 09:14:08 · answer #2 · answered by the Jamster 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes its a legal requirement on night flights.
The reason why windows shutters must be opened before landing is simple. This is mainly for safety reasons. Imagine if there is a crash landing and there is a fire on your right side. You are not going to evacuate to the right side because you can see that there is smoke or fire and will immediately head for the emergency exits on the left. If the window shutters are closed, and if you survive a crash landing, you will have not much time to find out which emergency exit is safe to evacuate.
Similarly, the reason why the cabin lights are dimmed before night take-off or landing is also because of the same explanation. You can see better outside with a dimmed light inside than if it was very brightly lighted.
2007-02-16 09:00:53 · answer #3 · answered by Robert G 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe the FAA mandates it - not sure why , maybe so that other planes taking off and landing don't confuse the lights as another runway
2007-02-16 09:01:14 · answer #4 · answered by travelgirl218 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋