Why are the Cabin lights turned off ?
 

could someone explain why , apart from safety reasons, i.e. not wanting pax moving about during take-off and landing.

Why are the lights in the passenger cabin turned off for landing and take-off ?

Why? Why? Why?
 

Assuming things turn to ^$%& and an emergency evacuation is required, you don't want to be night blind because of bright cabin lights. If things are relatively dark prior to the disaster, you don't need as much time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness of the cabin and outside of the aircraft.

Although, I've seen some outfits run the cabin lights full bright at night during take off and landing. So, I guess the answer to your question really is: "Because it's our SOP!"


PantLoad

:ok: thank's, i was think it would be something like that.

i asked the question because my nephew asked me. i had to pick up my brother and his family returning from their holiday .i 'm a PPL ,so his six old son was wondering on the flight home why they turned out the lights and he decided he'd ask me.

couldn't think of any other reason than for safety .

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=dimmed

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=dimmed

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=dimmed

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=dimmed

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...=windows+blind

The search function is your friend........:ok:

Cabin Lights!?
 

The cabin lights need to be turned off so your eyes will get used to the darkness.

Unless of course the airline concerned is QANTAS, which insists on having the cabin lights at full brightness for t/o and landing just to make sure everyone will be blind as a bat as they head down the chutes into the darkness.

But hey, they're the safest airline in the world (or so I hear...).

Yes we never turn 'em for takeoff, as per SOPs. I don't think it really makes a difference to peoples night vision, considering you've just taxied with 'em bright and you're going to whack 'em back once airbourne. That momentary darkness will hardly give you any see-in-the-dark abilities, certainly very little above what you would have had before. It takes eyes alot longer than a couple of seconds to adjust.

Just to add to this thread, i have noticed a lot of airlines insist on the window blinds being returned to the up position before landing etc. Does this have some safety issue behind it, or is it purely to make the crew's life easier during turn around:hmm:

"Window blinds up " is an sop in some airlines so you can see any dangers outside . I think the cabin crews onboard a/c are sometimes mistaken for jobsworths by some of the passengers but everything is done for a reason .

I would think that is the reason for the dim lights as well. Instead of just seeing your own reflection when they are on, you can see outside with them off.

If it all goes badly wrong on take-off or landing:

Although your eyes will not be 'fully' accustomed to the relative darkness (takes about 30 mins), even a minute or two will be a big help if it suddenly goes dark.

In those dark moments, you will be able to see the 'floor level lighting' to help you to the exit.

A little ambient light through the windows (if the blinds are open) may help your orientation, as the aircraft may not be upright.

Parts of the sky, or the airfield lighting, or fires outside, may also guide you to a suitable hole in the fuselage, if your eyes are just a little accustomed to the dark.

Such little things may make a difference when it matters.

I believe the TV show Myth Busters has indicated one of their future projects is to show the lights dim policy and the window blinds up for landing policy are myths in that night adaption to any effective degree is impossible in an airliner cabin and in fact could be potentially lethal to passengers who are vision impaired (elderly and those wearing glasses) whose vision is infinately reduced further in a dim light cabin environment. In fact if there is a fire outside the aircraft after an accident, you could argue that window blinds down could delay onset of night vision destruction - if there was any in the first place.

Also with the window blind open you are the eyes of the pilots as they cant see what is happening behind the. I was looking out the windw when I noticed a small bird hit the wing on takeoff as a crew member went into the flight deck mentioned it and they were unaware. Wasent a major problem however it could been something far worse.

no...this theory is totally wrong.

they switch off unecessary light, to reduce consumption during take off, and by "unloading" the engine, it results to a shorter take off, better climb...

if an engine fail, you want be sure that all eletric load go to the cockpit for the pilot instruments, and not to unecessary lights in the PAX cabin.

for the window blind story , the palne as been crash cetified with window blind open...If they want keep the window closed, they will probably need an authorisation, resulting in more tests,...

gosh , where did you learn to fly? in a class room in front of you ATPL binders ;) ???get a clue!!!

It is to make sure that the floor escape route lights are visible in case of an evacuation. Thats what I was told by BCAL.

Dart its bleed air from the engine that can be unloaded if more thrust is required,nice to see this thread back again.

In an emergency the electrics are supposed to do their own thing and in the worst case give you 30 mins from battery power.

Dart if you were joking you got me.I guess some thrust must be used up to turn a genny but I have never heard this before.

I like the theory of gullione,but the green signs on the floor, are if there is smoke in the cabin.

in the A320, if you get an engine out, all galleys disconnects automatically to preserve electrical source for the cockpit unless you want have hot coffee after a crash...(I agree I was wrong about performance increase, this concern packs system, i wanted to test you...:rolleyes: )

Extract from my current airlines Cabin Crew SOP manual:

"The main cabin lights must be dimmed for take-off and landing during the hours of darkness. If an incident occurs resulting in the failure of the main aircraft lighting system, passengers should be able to easily readjust to the lower level of light produced by the emergency lights."

Hope this helps further!

Buzz Box,

You'll be delighted to know that QF have reversed the policy and they're now dimmed. Sanity prevails [well, in that repect anyway!:rolleyes: ]

G'day ;)

Flew on a bmi 320 last night out of LHR, and the cabin lights weren't dimmed for take off or landing - it was fully dark outside. Never previously had a flight from the beginnings of dusk or later where that has happened. The cabin crew chief was the oldest I had seen on a non-US airline, so maybe she forgot!