Why the window shade needs to be up for take-off and landing
We’re all used to complying with various safety precautions on airplanes. There’s a routine all cabin crew have to complete during every take-off and landing. And because these routines are in place to keep us safe, most of us comply willingly. But now and then, there are rules in place that seem silly and even trivial.
Why do window shades have to be up for take-off and landing, for example? Does it really matter whether or not the view outside is obscured by a blind? As long as the pilot can see, what’s the harm? Right? Well, there’s a very important safety issue at the heart of this universal rule. And it’s all to do with evacuating the plane in the event of a crash landing. Read on to find out why window shades must be up for both take-off and landing.
- Facilitates faster and safer disembarking
- Allows cabin crew to organize a safe evacuation process
- Provides a more satisfying experience for the passenger
Facilitates faster and safer disembarking
No one who flies ever wants to think about the possibility of a crash. But it’s always important to be ready for the worst. Even as a passenger, you have a responsibility to keep your fellow flyers safe in the event of an emergency. Imagine you’re involved in an emergency landing situation. You need to be ready to disembark the plane quickly and safely when told to do so by the crew. Your window shade is closed, as are the shades of the passengers in front and behind you. But the sun is blazing overhead outside. When you finally disembark the plane, your eyes have become accustomed to the relative darkness. When they are suddenly exposed to bright daylight, you become disoriented and struggle to see properly. This holds up the people behind you who are still waiting to disembark. But if all the shades in the place are open, your eyes are already accustomed to the daylight when you make your escape. You can react quickly and disembark without delay or hesitation. Incidentally, this is why the cabin lights are dimmed during take-off and landing at night.
Allows cabin crew to organize a safe evacuation process
Cabin crew members train for weeks before they’re allowed to work in commercial cabins. The most important part of their training involves safety. In the event of an emergency, the pilot and co-pilot must focus solely on landing the plane. It is the cabin crew’s responsibility to ensure passengers are safe and compliant with safety procedures. It is also the crew’s responsibility to facilitate a safe and fast disembarkation. Once an emergency landing has taken place, flight attendants must decide on the safest way to evacuate the airplane. They need to check outside for hazards and obstacles, which is why window shades must be up. There are doors on both sides of most commercial planes, and the crew will open those that provide the safest exit route for passengers. This information is also communicated to the pilots. Also, the emergency services on the ground need to make quick assessments when the plane touches down. They will look inside the cabin — through the windows — to check for signs of fire and smoke.
Provides a more satisfying experience for the passenger
As well as the safety reasons for putting window shades in the up position for take-off and landing, there’s a more positive reason. Flying into a new country or city is a wonderful experience. You get to see your destination from an awe-inspiring perspective. This is a spectacular way to start a vacation. And it’s an inspirational way to return home after a long journey. You get to see the undulations of the land, key landmarks, road networks and the very best of Mother Nature. And the views are even more stunning at night.
Just remember that serious problems with modern airplanes are extremely rare. If you’re a nervous flyer, there are many ways to deal with the issue that don’t involve closing your window shade.
Now that you’ve learned a little more about the meticulous safety standards that apply to commercial airplanes, you might feel like booking your next trip. We’ve got you covered at BudgetAir.com. Just make sure your window shade is in the open position for take-off and landing!