to the exits. The over-wing doors. The seat pitch. And the lighting state of the cabin, which is why the crew sets it before the moment it might be needed rather than after.
The window shades, explained
The request to raise the window shades belongs
There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.to the same logic. There are two reasons, and both are about information.
Raised shades let your eyes use whatever natural light exists outside to keep adjusting, and they keep the inside and outside light levels closer together so the transition in an emergency is less jarring.
They give the crew, and you, a clear view of the outside. If there is a fire on one side of the aircraft, a fuel leak, or debris, that exit should not be used. Cabin crew scan the wings and engines during takeoff and landing precisely so they can direct an evacuation away from danger.
An open shade turns every passenger into an extra pair of eyes. A flight attendant cannot see both sides of the aircraft at once, but a cabin full of people looking out their windows can collectively notice a
