If you have ever traveled by plane, you might have noticed that the cabin crew instructs passengers to open the window shades during take-off and landing. While the reasons for instructions like fastening seatbelts or keeping seats upright are easy to understand, why are passengers asked to open the window shades?

In fact, there is a safety-related reason for this as well. Let’s explore why opening the window shades is crucial for safety.

**Quickly Assessing Emergencies**
If a technical malfunction or emergency occurs during take-off or landing, the cabin crew has very little time to evacuate passengers. Open window shades allow the crew to assess the situation outside; for instance, if there is a fire on the right side of the aircraft, the crew would open only the emergency exit doors on the left side.

**Adjusting Eyes to External Light**
Human eyes take a few seconds to adjust to bright light or darkness. If passengers were to move suddenly from darkness to bright light, they might be momentarily blinded by the glare, which could hinder the evacuation process. Open shades allow passengers' eyes to adjust to the external light, which is essential for a quick exit during an emergency.

**Passenger Observation**
In some instances, issues like sparks from the engine or other malfunctions might go unnoticed by the crew, but passengers seated by the windows can spot them and immediately alert the crew. This facilitates prompt action and ensures the safe evacuation of passengers.

**Assistance from External Rescue Teams**
In the event of a major accident, fire brigades or rescue teams outside can view the conditions inside the aircraft through the open windows. This helps them carry out rescue operations more swiftly.

**International Aviation Rule**
The rule requiring window shades to be open during take-off and landing is a standard protocol that all airlines are required to follow. This is not limited to just one country; no matter which airline you travel with anywhere in the world, you have to follow this rule.

PC Social Media