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Old 1st May 2001 | 18:00
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a5in_the_sim
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Cool

Not such an unusual switch. It is probably a "sterile cockpit" light. These frequently illuminate a blue light overhead the cockpit door (externally to the flight deck) so that the cabin crew can determine whether "sterile cockpit" procedures are in force.

Sterile cockpit procedures are a method for minimising unecessary flight crew distractions during the critical phases of flight. They imply that the flight crew are observing a quiet/minimal distraction operation, with no extraneous chat. The external light indicates to the cabin crew that the flight crew are not to be disturbed with non-essential or non-emergency interuptions/distractions. Individual company procedures may require a "sterile cockpit" below an altitude of circa 15'000ft.

Either that or the switch ensures the death of whatever sperm (or ovaries) are left after all that increased cosmic radiation.