Cabin lights at night ruin the atmosphere!
 

I'm sure there are safety aspects to consider, and the bottom line is that everybody needs to see where they're going and what they're doing, but...

... Isn't it so much nicer in the cabin at night when the lights are off? It's one of my pet hates about medium haul night flights - you're weary eyed and want some sleep, but it seems there's only two options on these aircraft, on or off!

Is it just long haul aircraft that have dimmed lighting as an option, or is it something specific to the airline?

Apologies in advance if it's a stupid question.

:ok:

I believe that the lights are not only dimmed in takeoff at night for better viewing, but also for the fact that your eyes are adjusted to the outside lighting conditions in the event that an evacuation is needed. ie you won't be disorentated/stunned when you leave the aircraft.

On Medium Haul night flights I've always experienced that the lights are dimmed after service.. (B737)

The lights can be 'dimmed', like on landing, just depends on the crew. I totally agree with you, there is no reason to keep them on at night, but very few cabin crew are willing to dim the lights.

Penko; why do you believe that CC themselves decide when and how much to dim the lights?
In addition, what makes you think that at night, CC prefer their pax wide awake, walking around and wanting food and drinks rather than peacefully asleep?
I mean really......

Most airlines have procedures for most things, including cabin lights.
And as long as these procedures are in accordance with the aviation authority rules governing that particular airline, the airline decides how much light at what stage of the flight. The CC follow those instructions.

multi_engined, as far as I know, there has been done a far bit of research on the subject, but the studies are inconclusive as to what, overall, is the best policy.

ei-flyer, the 737, like most aircraft currently in use, has various cabin light options. Again, up to the airline as to what they deem the best procedure, and for the CC to carry out their airline´s procedure.

In your case, before your next night flight, take yourself online and buy a version of:

http://brain.pan.e-merchant.com/6/4/...g_08500146.jpg

Good luck. :ok:

I'v operated on 737-757-A319-A320-A321-777-747 and I can assure you, as soon as the last service is complete the lights are off, and I ensure window blinds are down! I don't even want the early sun rise to wake my passengers!

Atmosphere
I do miss not being able to see the sun rise now that on many planes you do not have control of the blinds as a passenger:{. I know that this can disturb other passengers if flying in the back but in business you could minimise any light hitting fellow passengers on the airlines I fly on. However we still have the Sunsets to watch and marvel at.:ok:

I wouldn't come and restrain you, should you wish to enjoy the sunrise, but other passenger might :ok: I have the pleasure of a huge 777 Door window to look through!

Officially at Easyjet, lights can be set to dim 2. In effect that is actually quite dim and one set of lights (either window or ceiling lights) could be switched off making the cabin fairly comfortable for sleeping but still light.

Me personally? I make it like the black hole of Calcutta but regular cabin patrols, as they always should be, need to be made to check on everyone. One thing to bear in mind though, it has to pretty late. Typically, I won't turn lights off on anything that lands before 11pm....even Midnight.

It is generally the crews own preference and choice. Few of my colleagues tend to have lights on bright on longer distance late flights.

Oh wow. I must be flying in the old rust buckets; I've never been on a plane with such blinds. Which models are these? Is it just a mechanical shutter or some smarter window panel technology?

I remember them dimming at take-off. Do they dim for night-time landings too?

B787 has touch technology

Lights are dimmed right down as per CAA recommendation (regulation?) for all night takeoffs and landings. This is because one's eyes are very sensitive to changes in light levels at night (it takes about 20mins to fully adjust to a change in white light level at night), and if one were to be involved in an accident/ evacuation in the dark, it would be preferable that your eyes are already accustomed to the lower levels of light typically experienced outside the aircraft. Hope that helps explain things

you won't be disorentated/stunned when you leave the aircraft.

flapsforty, I do not know your airline, I am talking about mine. One of the largest in Europe. There is no reason to keep the lights on at bright. Relax.

Regarding the eyes being accustomed to the darkness outside, well, the brightest lights in the Airbus aircraft are the signs indicating the emergency exits and those come on when the gear are down. ANY night vision you might develop with a darkened cabin will be ruined once you walk past one of these signs near the exits during an evacuation. I go with the explanation that it is easier with a darkened cabin to look outside through the windows to assess the damage before opening a door in the event of a mishap.

Funnily enough, in the cockpit the pilots are not even allowed to switch off the lights at night during takeoff! What night vision? :ok:

Final point regarding night vision, if night vision was important to the CAA they would have banned the use of those bright reading lights during landing and takeoff...

In actual fact guys you're both right. The lights aren't dimmed categorically for one reason. In an emergency, particularly crash like, situation there is a good chance that the lights will go out. By accustoming your eyes to that that level/lack of light will instantly help you if an emergency/crash/evacuation occurred. It doesn't matter whether there are exit lights or reading lights, the fact that the cabin has dim lights will help. It doesn't really have anything to do with accustoming your eyes outside of the aircraft.

Another reason, as PENKO says, is to assess the conditions outside though the primary hazard is fire which can be easily seen anyway.

In the past there have been various reasons banded around. I remember when I used to fly as a nipper back in the early 90's there were various reasonings actually announced on the PA. One such example was to reduce the effect of night time departures on those living on the approach/takeoff. It was almost like they were trying to shield you from the real reason.

Anyway, it is still one of the most common questions asked by passengers.

I for one hate the blinds being put down.
Despite decades in the business I am still enthralled by looking out of the window.
It, what you see, is one of the greatest free shows on earth - far better than any of the AVOD and other so called 'entertainment'. At very least it works every time!
I'll sleep when I want to thank you very much and not at the behest of someone who thinks I should - for my or their benefit.

I know the reasons behind dimming the lights during take-off/landing and it's always interesting to hear other theories, but this thread is more about why lights are kept ON as opposed to why are they turned OFF :ok:

gcal, I echo your sentiments... You can pay 50-100 quid to go watch some guys kicking a ball about, or the same cash can buy you a return trip to somewhere nice (or to make money!) strapped to a pressurised, heated tube with two chock-off jet engines attached to it which will take you to your destination at 500-600 mph + in the stratosphere, and you even have a window to look at it all happening.

There's something captivating about watching the rural lights of some foreign countryside slipping slowly by. Buggers disappear when the lights are on :p

That's another point - I'd rather have the map and speed/altitude information shown on the screens the entire journey than some crappy movie that is on a screen about five metres away from me that I can hardly hear through the headsets, but I can't complain about that as it's probably what the masses want!

Last week on a night departure on a Cebu Pacific flight their announcement was "We are dimming the cabin lights for take off to give you a better view of the city"

How sensible.