Hudson
With all due respect (as they say) what a lot of tosh!
"The cockpit crew will have never gained night vision adaption as they taxi due to myriad of airport lights, runway lights and the beams of their own landing lights, let alone the overhead map-reading lights." None of these lights (how can they see their own landing lights, anyway?) will be bright enough to make much difference to their night adaptation.
Cabin staff have emergency torches, so night vision adaptation is not so much of a problem for them. I note that at least one European airline's cabin crew hold their torches in their hands for takeoff and landing, and they wear their gloves (fire). Sounds eminently sensible to me, and a pity that other operators don't require the same.
"that people who need glasses to see adequately, are invariably handicapped if the ambient light is poor " Rubbish!
[This message has been edited by Hew Jampton (edited 18 February 2001).]