It is one of the most familiar and often-ignored rituals of air travel: just as your plane begins its final descent or taxi for take-off, a cabin crew member instructs you to raise the window shade. Most frequent flyers view this as a slightly bothersome request, a polite interruption that pulls them away from their film or book. However, one former airline pilot has revealed the sobering, life-critical reason behind this seemingly simple command. It is not about offering you a final view of the runway, but is instead a vital, non-negotiable measure designed to save precious seconds during the two most dangerous phases of any flight: take-off and landing.
The compulsory instruction is wholly geared towards emergency management. The first reason is logistical: raised blinds allow the flight attendants to instantly assess external conditions following an unexpected incident – such as an engine fire or ground debris – so they can swiftly determine the safest side of the aircraft for an evacuation. The second is physiological: by exposing your eyes to the external light, whether it’s bright daylight or dim ramp lighting at night, your vision is already adjusted. In a sudden emergency, where a full evacuation must happen in less than 90 seconds, the delay caused by passengers’ eyes struggling to adapt to a shift in illumination can be deadly. Next time you are asked to raise your window shade, comply immediately: you are not just obeying a rule, you are actively ensuring the best view of your personal escape route.
