Lighten our darkness, oh Lord! The lighting thread
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Lighten our darkness, oh Lord! The lighting thread
Hi all,
1st post here so excuse me if this has been asked previously........
At what height/position are the cabin lights dimmed for landing?
On the other side, at what height/position are they turned back on again after a night time take off?
Cheers.
Mark.
1st post here so excuse me if this has been asked previously........
At what height/position are the cabin lights dimmed for landing?
On the other side, at what height/position are they turned back on again after a night time take off?
Cheers.
Mark.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Hi,
For landing the cabin lights are dimmed after the 'Final Cabin Secure' which is 10 mins to landing, they are then switched back on when we get onto stand.
As for take off they are dimmed again after 'Final Cabin Secure' after the crew have done demo and then switched back up after crew release - about 10-15 mins ater take off.
Hope this helps - this is just the way it is at my current airline.
For landing the cabin lights are dimmed after the 'Final Cabin Secure' which is 10 mins to landing, they are then switched back on when we get onto stand.
As for take off they are dimmed again after 'Final Cabin Secure' after the crew have done demo and then switched back up after crew release - about 10-15 mins ater take off.
Hope this helps - this is just the way it is at my current airline.
Never understood the logic of turning the lights off when all medical advice and practical thinking says it takes about 30 mins for the Mk 1 human eyeball to become fully dark adapted.
Subdued lighting so you can't see the fear in each others faces as you are about to meet thy doom, sense of smell is not affected by darkness. Any night adaption is probably going to be shot by the flash of the ensuing fireball. Guess it must be so that the pax are unaware that the fan has been hit when the generators drop off line. Do you really want to be locked in a dark cabin with 100+ strangers when everything goes pear shaped?
Face it, the lights are turned out so the crew can escape undetected, after all they know the aircraft, you don't
Subdued lighting so you can't see the fear in each others faces as you are about to meet thy doom, sense of smell is not affected by darkness. Any night adaption is probably going to be shot by the flash of the ensuing fireball. Guess it must be so that the pax are unaware that the fan has been hit when the generators drop off line. Do you really want to be locked in a dark cabin with 100+ strangers when everything goes pear shaped?
Face it, the lights are turned out so the crew can escape undetected, after all they know the aircraft, you don't
Mark,
my appologies for not actually posting a reply which addressed your original question.
have just re-read what you asked and my responses. You are absolutely correct, the lights are dimmed so there is a chance your eyes might be "dark-adapted" when the power fails and you need to exit the aircraft into a dark environment.
However, if the CAA/FAA was really determined to enforce this principle to enhance the safety of the passengers why then does it allow you to continue to read by means of your own nice bright individual reading light???????? Spoiling your own night vision and that of the poor bugger sat next to you???
True flight safety only comes when you lock the planes in the hangar...
Fly safe
T
my appologies for not actually posting a reply which addressed your original question.
have just re-read what you asked and my responses. You are absolutely correct, the lights are dimmed so there is a chance your eyes might be "dark-adapted" when the power fails and you need to exit the aircraft into a dark environment.
However, if the CAA/FAA was really determined to enforce this principle to enhance the safety of the passengers why then does it allow you to continue to read by means of your own nice bright individual reading light???????? Spoiling your own night vision and that of the poor bugger sat next to you???
True flight safety only comes when you lock the planes in the hangar...
Fly safe
T
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"However, if the CAA/FAA was really determined to enforce this principle to enhance the safety of the passengers why then does it allow you to continue to read by means of your own nice bright individual reading light???????? Spoiling your own night vision and that of the poor bugger sat next to you???"
Only those few of us who can read, or insist on reading during landing, and yes maybe our less literate seatmates, will be vision-impaired if difficulties ensue. Perhaps we readers are in a diminishing and less-regarded minority.
Overall I think the number of survivors of a desperate situation as posited will be about the same cabin lights on or off, and mostly there is no way to analyze/statistacalize that anyway, so WTH sez I. Leave my reading light on at least, thanks.
Only those few of us who can read, or insist on reading during landing, and yes maybe our less literate seatmates, will be vision-impaired if difficulties ensue. Perhaps we readers are in a diminishing and less-regarded minority.
Overall I think the number of survivors of a desperate situation as posited will be about the same cabin lights on or off, and mostly there is no way to analyze/statistacalize that anyway, so WTH sez I. Leave my reading light on at least, thanks.
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A sparking or blazing engine will be far easier to see if the lights are out, and hence no internal reflections. I recently flew from BKK to HKT on a TG AB6 and none of the lights were dimmed for either TO or landing. As well as the obvious safety hazard, there was also the ire arising from the fact that you cannot see the beautful Thai scenery when the cabin lights are set to MAX.
Upon querying this with the Purse on disembarkation, I was told that she simply "forgot" to dim the lights.
Hmmmm....................
Upon querying this with the Purse on disembarkation, I was told that she simply "forgot" to dim the lights.
Hmmmm....................
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The dimming of cabin lights for t/o / landing may be many a company's procedure but it is by no means a CAA/FAA mandatory procedure. It is recommended by the CAA/FAA but is not a ruling.
Any chance to get used to the darkness before all power fails is better than from complete brightness to pitch black, even if it is not the full 30 mins.
The reason why pax may use their reading lights is because as stated above this procedure is not a ruling and to some pax who may not understand why it is done, it is just seen as an inconvenience!
Crew_MYT:
--------------
Blimey, we're released between 30 secs - 3 mins after t/o!!!
Tri
Any chance to get used to the darkness before all power fails is better than from complete brightness to pitch black, even if it is not the full 30 mins.
The reason why pax may use their reading lights is because as stated above this procedure is not a ruling and to some pax who may not understand why it is done, it is just seen as an inconvenience!
Crew_MYT:
--------------
Blimey, we're released between 30 secs - 3 mins after t/o!!!
Tri
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Can some one also explain why Easy have to dim the cabin lights for T/O & Landing in bright sun?
I guess money havs something to do with it like it saves 25p on fuel per flight.
I guess money havs something to do with it like it saves 25p on fuel per flight.
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Whats the titanium got to do with anything
Never understood the logic of turning the lights off when all medical advice and practical thinking says it takes about 30 mins for the Mk 1 human eyeball to become fully dark adapted.
Only those few of us who can read, or insist on reading during landing, and yes maybe our less literate seatmates, will be vision-impaired if difficulties ensue. Perhaps we readers are in a diminishing and less-regarded minority.
However, if the CAA/FAA was really determined to enforce this principle to enhance the safety of the passengers why then does it allow you to continue to read by means of your own nice bright individual reading light???????? Spoiling your own night vision and that of the poor bugger sat next to you???
Regulation in this area is not what it should be. That doesn't mean we should throw away what we've got. I apologize if I’ve offended anyone. I’m just really angry about lax cabin safety regulation.
Hmmmyeah
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Hear what your saying av8boy and quite agree.
I for one choose to keep my belt fastened all the time I'm seated for obvious reasons, the trouble is that if the good people around me dont do so they may well injure me if they end up being thrown onto me during an encounter with clear air turbulence. Now granted its suggested in the pre-flight safety briefing that people stay belted up but only in passing and the reasons aren't explained fully or in any way graphically as it wouldnt do to suggest to them that something untoward could happen, they just dont want to consider the possibility let alone have it presented to them by the cabin crew.
As a point in case I once flew with someone who was truly terrified of flying. I knew about this for sometime before the flight and she kept asking me for reassurance so I suggested to her that it really is incredibly safe but if she wanted to feel as if she had done all she could to ensure some additional level of personal safety she might consider wearing shoes that would stay on her feet, natural materials that covered her legs and arms, checked out the locations of and counted rows to exits and stayed belted up as much as possible. Of course she asked the reasons for all these suggestions so I did my best to explain in a non dramatic fashion and simply emphasise that she would simply be giving herself a head start in as many ways as a possible.
Come the day of the flight she dressed in a flimsy synthetic skirt and flip flops, hardly ideal! I didnt ask why as I thought it would probably be enough to stop her flying at all to give her any thoughts about an incident on the day itself. I didnt need to ask anyway, it was simply a case of the fact that the only level she could consider the possibilities on was that of 'guaranteed' safety, to of prepared slightly for anything else would to some degree of been to acknowledge the possibility of something going wrong and was simply unacceptable to her, no matter how tiny and remote the danger.
This is the way the majority of pax think I'm afraid, to them its all or nothing and the only way they fly is with the illusion of assured safety, it doesnt really add up because I'm sure most of the people who neglect to wear their seatbelt in the cruise on an aircraft will wear one habitually all the time when travelling by car even though there is no crew to remind them to do so, perhaps they see a belt as a life saver there but cant in an aircraft environment where there there is little or no sensation of speed or movement or any understanding of the possibilities for unexpected turbulence and its possible violence.
I take my precautions without fail when flying, sure a situation could arise where they make not one jot of difference but then again one could arise where they allow me to help not only myself but possibly others. I'll take that option for increased safety just like I dont drive without a seatbelt. Others would do well to do the same but I think they have the mindset of the young lady I mentioned and simply will not, or maybe cannot, consider the possibilities.
I for one choose to keep my belt fastened all the time I'm seated for obvious reasons, the trouble is that if the good people around me dont do so they may well injure me if they end up being thrown onto me during an encounter with clear air turbulence. Now granted its suggested in the pre-flight safety briefing that people stay belted up but only in passing and the reasons aren't explained fully or in any way graphically as it wouldnt do to suggest to them that something untoward could happen, they just dont want to consider the possibility let alone have it presented to them by the cabin crew.
As a point in case I once flew with someone who was truly terrified of flying. I knew about this for sometime before the flight and she kept asking me for reassurance so I suggested to her that it really is incredibly safe but if she wanted to feel as if she had done all she could to ensure some additional level of personal safety she might consider wearing shoes that would stay on her feet, natural materials that covered her legs and arms, checked out the locations of and counted rows to exits and stayed belted up as much as possible. Of course she asked the reasons for all these suggestions so I did my best to explain in a non dramatic fashion and simply emphasise that she would simply be giving herself a head start in as many ways as a possible.
Come the day of the flight she dressed in a flimsy synthetic skirt and flip flops, hardly ideal! I didnt ask why as I thought it would probably be enough to stop her flying at all to give her any thoughts about an incident on the day itself. I didnt need to ask anyway, it was simply a case of the fact that the only level she could consider the possibilities on was that of 'guaranteed' safety, to of prepared slightly for anything else would to some degree of been to acknowledge the possibility of something going wrong and was simply unacceptable to her, no matter how tiny and remote the danger.
This is the way the majority of pax think I'm afraid, to them its all or nothing and the only way they fly is with the illusion of assured safety, it doesnt really add up because I'm sure most of the people who neglect to wear their seatbelt in the cruise on an aircraft will wear one habitually all the time when travelling by car even though there is no crew to remind them to do so, perhaps they see a belt as a life saver there but cant in an aircraft environment where there there is little or no sensation of speed or movement or any understanding of the possibilities for unexpected turbulence and its possible violence.
I take my precautions without fail when flying, sure a situation could arise where they make not one jot of difference but then again one could arise where they allow me to help not only myself but possibly others. I'll take that option for increased safety just like I dont drive without a seatbelt. Others would do well to do the same but I think they have the mindset of the young lady I mentioned and simply will not, or maybe cannot, consider the possibilities.
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S-Check, agree totally.
I ALWAYS belt up when I fly (having once seen that NASA crash test footage with the dummies was enough to convince me if i hadn't been already!)
, and I like to keep a hold of a seatback when moving about the a/c... Like you say, I just keep an eye out for the possible "large person" who may land on me or block the exit come an emergency....!
Reminds me of a quote by John Wiseman, the SAS dude, (about survival kit but also applies here to seatbelts)
The day you'll need it is the day you leave home without it....(or don't wear it etc)"
Sky
I ALWAYS belt up when I fly (having once seen that NASA crash test footage with the dummies was enough to convince me if i hadn't been already!)
, and I like to keep a hold of a seatback when moving about the a/c... Like you say, I just keep an eye out for the possible "large person" who may land on me or block the exit come an emergency....!Reminds me of a quote by John Wiseman, the SAS dude, (about survival kit but also applies here to seatbelts)
The day you'll need it is the day you leave home without it....(or don't wear it etc)"
Sky
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BA on LHR late night longhauls used to tell its passengers that cabin lights were dimmed before takeoff to enable passengers to have a better view of London at night.
Query- What level of turbulence will necessitate the cabin crew being told over the PA during meal service to take their seats for safety reasons?? This was a Virgin HKG-LHR and LHR-HKG sectors
Query- What level of turbulence will necessitate the cabin crew being told over the PA during meal service to take their seats for safety reasons?? This was a Virgin HKG-LHR and LHR-HKG sectors
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Flashing Landing Lights?
during a p.e lesson at school today near heathrow airport i couldnt help but just notice a air canada a340 on finals as it got closer to the runway just before dissapearing under the trees a bright white light came on (rather like a landing light) but then turned off and after another a340 on approach done the same thing but it was on...off..on..off it was a very bright light from the right hand side seemed like it was coming from the wing ???
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Flashing Landing Lights?
Hello all,
I have only recently noticed on some Qantas 737-400's that when on final approach their landing lights seem to flash alternatively.
Is this a recent thing and what is the reason, i.e. to prevent bird strikes ?
Regards,
I have only recently noticed on some Qantas 737-400's that when on final approach their landing lights seem to flash alternatively.
Is this a recent thing and what is the reason, i.e. to prevent bird strikes ?
Regards,
Last edited by Flightsimman; 4th Dec 2007 at 12:10.