Airplane window shades should be open during takeoff and landing — here’s why

It is important to keep an open blind.

Having the blind open during takeoff and landing may seem like an unnecessary nuisance. However, this seemingly questionable protocol has an important security reason, which is why many airlines require the airline shutter to be lifted during these times.

“Raising your window shade during takeoff and landing makes it easier for flight attendants to assess any external hazards, such as fire or debris, that could interfere with an emergency evacuation,” a pilot Patrick Smith of AskThePilot.com told “Travel + Leisure.”

This allows crew members to determine which side of the plane is safest for an impromptu disembarkation, which is vital given that crew members must be able to evacuate a flight in 90 minutes or less.

In addition to making it easier to assess safety, open shades also help passengers “stay oriented” during a sudden “tumble and roll” impact, according to the flyboy.

The logic is that if something happens during takeoff or landing, your eyes will have adjusted the outside light, allowing you to react more quickly, according to flight blog BAA Training.

This practice is crucial during “takeoff, approach and landing” because that’s when accidents are most likely to occur, according to an Airbus report.

Indeed, these are “very complex flight phases” that place significant demands on crew members with regard to “navigation, aircraft configuration changes, weather conditions” and other factors, all of which increase the likelihood of a catastrophe, according to the aircraft manufacturer’s report.

It is especially crucial to have the blinds raised in the exit row, where passengers must assist the crew in an emergency.

“Passengers in the exit row must first look out the window before opening the exit,” Sue Fogwell, a former United Airlines flight attendant, told T+L. “If the wing is torn off, for example, that’s no longer a viable outcome.”

In addition to helping onboard employees see outside the plane, raising the shades also allows outside emergency crews to see what is happening. insidewhether it was a fire, smoke or another fiasco, BAA training reports.

Despite the importance of this portal protocol, it is up to the airlines to impose the shade; The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not have specific rules regarding blind position.

“I always make sure my blinds are up during takeoff and landing, no matter where I’m sitting on the plane,” said Lisa, a former American Airlines flight attendant.

It is interesting to know who has the authority of the portal during non-emergencies has been a point of contention of late, as highlighted by the many recent cases of flyers waging war over shadow rights.

In February, an airline passenger translated the “blind” into “blind justice” after stopping an “entitled” kid who was playing a monkey with his sky flap.

Ultimately, passengers must waive their blind rights in an emergency or when seated in exit rows on some airlines.