Why do planes turn out interior lights on night take offs and landings?

Answer 1

Commercial aircraft turn off interior lights during daytime take-offs and landings as well, so it's almost certainly not in order to avoid blinding other aircrews. It's not to keep the crew's vision clear, as the cockpit lights are not on the same circuit as the cabin lights.

Given that the electrical system on planes is powered by the engines as soon as the aircraft's engines are running, and that airliner engines are already running at pretty high tolerances just to get the plane into the air, I'm going to assume - in the absence of any real evidence, you understand - that it's to divert all non-essential electrical power to the engines and to control surfaces, i.e. ailerons, elevators, slats etc., in case anything bad happens, such as an engine failing on takeoff (it has happened, as in the American 191 disaster in 1979, in which an engine actually came off the wing during takeoff, leading to the crash of the aircraft and death of all on board.)

The length and complexity of that sentence is there basically to divert attention away from the fact that I haven't been able to find a verifiable answer.

Answer 2

The primary reason is so that your eyes are adjusted to the dark in the event of an emergency.

Its is clearly established in aviation that Take off and landing are the two times that a crash is most likely to occur.

Say you were going in for a landing at night, and the lights in the cabin were on. Then the roof got ripped of from the fusiladge (It has happened). Your eyes, being adjusted to the light, would need to adjust to the dark of the sky outside, and you would not be able to see what is going on very well. This would slow down the chances of you getting to safety.

Also, say there was a fire. With no internal lights, any bright exteriour flames show up really clearly in the dark sky.

Answer 3

This is so simple its not funny there are a few reasons:

1) At night the lights are off incase of an emergency evacuation, it is easier for your to see the illuminated lights on the floor and exits in the dark

2) Blinds are open and the cabin dark so that any exterior problems can be see and reported immediately, this is normal expectation of captains and everyone on board

3) The generator that powers the electrical systems on the plane also powers the lights, it is safer to have these light ciruits off during landing and takeoff to limit the risk of a short or fuse out.

In all its a safety thing that has been used for years and in some cases has saved lives.

Answer 4

The most common time for an accident is either during take off or landing. The engines are working hardest at this point, and with the lights off, the crew can see if there is a problem eg flames spitting out of the engines, and really ensure the passengers start panacking properly. The last thing they would want is for somthing spectacular happening like wings falling off or, on taking off, someone hanging onto the wing, and it go un-noticed.
Really, it's a form of in-flight entertainment in the event of things going wrong.

Answer 5

I should similar reason to not having a light on in the car, the pilot can see the lights inside the cabin and on the runway better without internal lighting being on, and of course, one is able to see should there be any problems on landing or take off. Some of the other answers are pretty sick, and NOT funny, especially if one is already scared of flying to start with! Enjoy your flight.

Answer 6

the biggest problem during take-off and landing is getting everybody to SIT DOWN of course, if you ask people to take their seats, they will, BUT WHEN ??? They just keep on wandering around. By turning off the lights, people get the idea, it's TIME to sit down.

Answer 7

Power save

Answer 8

So that the cabin staff can act as extra eyes for the pilot. Checking for approaching vehicles, birds etc. Also for visual signals such as flares from the control tower, in the event of radio failure.

Answer 9

Its to allow your night vision to kick in, should there be an emergency and you have to evacuate the plan it has been shown that it is more effective if people are not coming out of a bright plane into the dark.

Answer 10

for the people (like myself) who are nervous flyers, this will make it doubley frightening for them, and the air stewards are busy most of the flight, so while there having a 10 minute sit down during take-off/ landing, this may be the only laugh they get the whole flight!