Have you ever wondered why, despite your best efforts to stay awake, the cabin lights decrease during takeoff and landing?
Although it may appear to be a little, unimportant element, this technique serves a much more significant function than just making passengers feel comfortable.
This minor illumination adjustment is actually an important safety precaution that might have a big impact in an emergency. Let’s investigate the true cause of this widespread yet frequently disregarded flying ritual.
When you board an aircraft and find your seat, you might notice that the cabin lights are dim during takeoff and landing. This common practice has nothing to do with encouraging rest. Instead, it’s a crucial safety measure designed to prepare passengers and crew for any situation. Here’s why it’s not just common practice to switch off the lights in the cabin.
Safety Precaution: Getting Used to the Dark
The main purpose of dimming the cabin lights during takeoff and landing is to let passengers and crew members adjust their eyes. Dan Bubb, an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a former airline pilot, claims that “during dawn, dusk, and night, flight crews dim the lights so that in case of an emergency where passengers and the flight crew have to abandon the aircraft, their eyes already are adjusted to the dark.” It takes around five to ten minutes for the eyes to adjust from bright light to darkness, and this adjustment is essential if an evacuation is necessary.
Important Flight Stages
Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous phases of an airplane’s flight. According to Boeing, 21% of fatal accidents occur during takeoff and the early rise, whereas 46% occur during the final descent and landing. During these phases, pilots are very busy monitoring aircraft systems, evaluating the environment, and following air traffic control instructions.
Furthermore, because the aircraft is in a “dirty configuration” with its landing gear and wing flaps down, it is more prone to issues.
Increasing Emergency Preparedness
Dimming the cabin lights will help passengers find the exits more quickly and safely in the case of an emergency evacuation. With fewer lights, it is simpler to see the LED emergency exit signs and floor path lighting. Sue Fogwell, a former flight attendant for United Airlines, claims that “the cabin lights are dimmed at dusk and when it’s dark out, so your eyesight can adjust in order to more easily evacuate the aircraft.”
Extra Lighting Adjustments
In addition to turning out the lights, flight attendants will ask passengers to perform extra tasks like closing tray tables, packing their bags, and adjusting their seats. These steps provide clear paths to the exits. Additionally, flight attendants may request that passengers open their window covers. According to Patrick Smith, an airline pilot, “It is easier for the flight attendants to assess any external hazards – fire, debris – that might interfere with an emergency evacuation if you raise your window shade during takeoff and landing.”
In summary, lowering cabin lights during takeoff and landing is a well-thought-out safety precaution rather than a ploy to aid in passenger slumber. This procedure guarantees that both passengers and crew are ready for any crises by letting their eyes adapt to reduced light levels, especially during crucial flight phases. Since safety comes first, the dimmed lights and other safety measures like clear walkways and open window coverings make it easier to evacuate quickly and safely in the event that it becomes necessary. The next time you board a plane, you’ll be aware that the lights are dimmed as part of a crucial protocol to increase your safety in the event of an emergency.