Window Covering

Why when your landing or taking off do you have to keep your shutters on your window open??

You ever notice when your flying on an airliner that stewardess always asks you to keep your window shutter open during take off an landing??? Does any1 know why this is i was thinking maybe for balance or pressure wiyhing the aircraft

Public Comments

1. havent a clue, always wandered that myself
2. i think it's just so people can see the view, do they ask that when it's dark?
3. it is a pressure thing..
4. the flight attendants tell you to .. but im not sure if you have to
5. I've never had a flight attendant make me keep the shade up. I choose too, because I like to watch the takeoff and landing, but there have been times when I've slept through them, and the shade was down. Maybe it is the airline you are flying on? I generally only fly with American Airlines.
6. Dunnonish.
7. For light in case of a loss of power during an Evacuation Situation. Also lets them see VERY EASILY where there may be hazards during the Evacuation
8. they ask that for the general balance
9. You may have noticed that the cabin lights are 'dimmed during take-off and landing' to allow your eyes to adjust to the outside light so that should there be a reason to evacuate your eyes will be accustomed to the light levels. Same theory applies to keeping the blinds up.
10. The matter have nothing technical. Its more psychological. At the time of take off and landing there are sudden changes in weight conditions and relative inertia. By watching out side people could relate themselves with changes taking place. Passengers have tendency to watch out side while the air crafts take off or land. In absence of co-relation out side many could feel scared and suffocated
11. Just in case of an accident, the rescue people can see through what is inside so they can proceed with the best way to get access inside the aircraft.
12. For safety reasons in case of a mishap. The vast majority of all aircraft accidents happen during takeoff and landing. If something were to happen, you would not want to exit the aircraft into a burning pool of jet fuel following a crash landing. Additionally it gives rescuers a view of the inside of the aircraft. They wouldn't want to cut through the side of the aircraft into a fire inside the aircraft or use a Sawzall through the side of the fuselage and cut into an injured passenger. The cabin lights are usually dimmed or shut off entirely to minimize the sources of ignition in case of a mishap. The fewer circuits that are electrically live, the less chance of a short-circuit induced fire.
13. There is no requirement to keep it open. But that is when the plane useually makes the most noise and ruff movements so they ask you to keep them open so it is less likely to make someone sick when they can see out and have a refrence to land
14. It's to let the cabincrew see any hazzards and best way to choose which emergency exit is safest to use.
15. I wondered that myself to. They do that in singapre airlines to u know that there are photographers that takes pics of airplanes. So i think they want the shades up so the aircraft will look nice from the outside
16. Well you are very smart you answered your own question!Good job!In order to prevent the plane from slightly expanding due to different air pressures they are opened so that the inside of the plane matches the outside and close them to keep that pressure till they land.That's when they open the shutters.Also if you reach an altitude high enough your ears will pop!hope that helps amigo!
17. It's for the same reason they darken the interior lights when you fly at night. Should the plane have to make an emergency landing..your eyes wont take as long to adjust to the different lighting conditions if you have to exit the plane in a hurry. And if there has been a survivable crash you would be able to see if there is fire or debris outside the aircraft quickly(shutters have been known to stick in the window aperture if closed).
18. Victor M, you've got to be kidding. Do you really think those things are pressure tight? Maybe it's so you can see the ground coming at you and you can say your last prayers or rub one out before you get smashed into a bloody mess! Just kidding. Those who said it has to do with letting light in in case of an emergency w/ a loss of power are dead on.
19. so flight attendants can see out the window in case of emergency
20. Check previous questions, this self same question gets asked every week.
21. Not AGAIN! Please check previously (and frequently) answered questions!