Regular fliers would know exactly when their flight is ready for take off and landing just with a simple cue: dimming of the lights. But if you, like us, did not know why the lights are dimmed both during take off and landing, here is a short explainer: it is for safety reasons.
The purpose of dimming the lights is to help passengers' eyes adjust more quickly in case of an emergency evacuation.
Here's why:
Our eyes can take anywhere from ten to 30 minutes to fully adjust to a dark setting, according to The Telegraph. By dimming the cabin lights, we can help our eyes pre-adjust to lower light conditions. This is especially important during nighttime flights or if an emergency requires a sudden evacuation. Those precious seconds it takes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness can make all the difference in safely exiting the aircraft.
In dimmer light, emergency lighting and illuminated pathways become more visible, guiding passengers to safety. This proactive measure ensures that everyone is prepared for a potential emergency and can evacuate the aircraft quickly and efficiently.
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It is for the same reason that flight attendants ask you to pull up your shades during takeoff and landing: it provides passengers and crew with better situational awareness. It allows flight attendants to monitor external conditions and helps passengers feel more comfortable during these critical phases of flight. Additionally, natural light can aid in a smoother and less disorienting evacuation both at night and during the day if needed.