alt Hacker NewsRegulations require that window shades be up (open) during take off and landing.
I was sitting next to a passenger once who was asked by the steward to raise the window shade.
While doing it, they asked "why". Answering for the steward I said "it's so Fire and Rescue can see into the plane if we crash". (Which is true, I used to work at airport fire and rescue.)
The steward looked at me with a "that's not helpful" look. My bad :( .
Although I think it's still useful for people to understand things are done for their safety. Not that we expect to crash, and most don't, but every little thing that might improve survival is done. That encourages rather than discourages me.
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Isn’t it also so you can look out to see if the emergency exits on that side are usable or if there is a fire or excessive debris blocking the exit?
> The steward looked at me with a "that's not helpful" look.
I get that they don't want people to panic, but I think an attitude of coddling people like that isn't productive.
My home airport is Sky Harbor in Phoenix. There has been at least one instance where the flight crew has required all passengers to close all our window shades while the aircraft was not in motion. And they said this was to prevent overheating from sunlight coming inside.
And I was rather miffed about missing out on the view outside, because as a technical guy, I totally enjoy seeing all the activity at an airport! Half the fun of flying!
Im with you. I watched Mayday. So I am not gonna inflate my life jacket on the plane as I don't want to drown in the sinking fuselage. But the briefing makes it sound like a suggestion so the briefing people hardly listen to hardly presses the point. But if you know why you wouldn't do it.