Flights - Putting your window blind up?

Kone · 12-07-2004 12:47pm #1

Does anyone know why the flight stewards always ask you to put your blind up for landing?

I can understand putting the seatbelt on and putting the seat up but window blinds??

/Kone

ChipZilla · 12-07-2004 12:51pm

I think it's so your eyes are accustomed to the natural light outside, just in case you need to bail out in a hurry.

Still it's not going to be a problem on Ryanair's new planes, as they won't have blinds.

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 12:52pm

Was doing a bit of flying recently and that is something that really bugged me as well...

Why god why?

I'm sure there is some sort or reason...

Kone · 12-07-2004 12:56pm

Originally posted by ChipZilla

Still it's not going to be a problem on Ryanair's new planes, as they won't have blinds.

This is true ChipZ and on the new planes the fecking seats don't recline!

lynchie · 12-07-2004 12:57pm

If for some reason the plane crash landed, the plane could loose power, and there may be no lights in the cabin. With the blinds closed it would be pretty much black dark. In the ensuing panic, people are not going to think to open all the window blinds to let in some light.

Kone · 12-07-2004 1:09pm

Thanks Lynchie, that makes sense!

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 1:11pm

Originally posted by lynchie
If for some reason the plane crash landed, the plane could loose power, and there may be no lights in the cabin. With the blinds closed it would be pretty much black dark. In the ensuing panic, people are not going to think to open all the window blinds to let in some light.

they have auxilary backup power for these situations, i.e. no engine power... its the same when you are boarding the plane and the engines are not on... everything is run from the auxilary/battery power.

With regards to the point about the light and adjustment to the outside conditions.. thats sounds reasonable... thats what i suspected anyway...

ChipZilla · 12-07-2004 1:17pm

Originally posted by Kone
This is true ChipZ and on the new planes the fecking seats don't recline!

Heh heh. You have to love Michael O'Leary's ideas of customer service though. I was reading earlier today about the lastest idea - banning all luggage except hand luggage:

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=790692004

Chief executive Michael O’Leary said handling checked baggage was one of the company’s heaviest costs. "The average stay of our passengers is less than two days so the overwhelming majority don’t need big bags," he said. "If people feel they must take a lot of luggage, they can fly with our higher-fare competitors."

Sleipnir · 12-07-2004 1:21pm

Originally posted by Kone
This is true ChipZ and on the new planes the fecking seats don't recline!

Praise the lo' !
At 6'4", I was tired of jamming my knees against the seat in front to prevent them from reclining.
Got into quite a few struggles for supremacy doing that!

Kone · 12-07-2004 1:23pm

You gotta love their 'Feck you all' attitude though!

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 1:24pm

Originally posted by Sleipnir
Praise the lo' !
At 6'4", I was tired of jamming my knees against the seat in front to prevent them from reclining.
Got into quite a few struggles for supremacy doing that!

needless to say its still crap legroom with ryanair... I even find them uncomfortable and im 5'6"

Sleipnir · 12-07-2004 1:24pm

Just wait till it's "Standing Room Only" and they have those straps hanging from the ceiling that you hang on to!

Kone · 12-07-2004 1:37pm

Originally posted by Sleipnir
Just wait till it's "Standing Room Only" and they have those straps hanging from the ceiling that you hang on to!

Jaysus Sleipnir, don't give them any ideas! lol!

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 1:56pm

d'you know what... i wouldn't put it past them... cowboys...

Evil_Bilbo · 12-07-2004 2:52pm

I too have noticed this "Open the blinds for take-off and landing" thingy.

But I have a new theory. They only ever ask you to do this WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE. I personally think that this is so, if there is a dude buzzing around the runways (or another plane driving about) that it will be clearly able to see where the plane you are in starts and ends, so that they wont collide.

Any takers?

And for all you tall people - Get the emergency exit seats (I always do). They RULE! tonnes of legroom. You can ask for them if you're being assigned seats, if not, you can leg it on and hop in them. The ones in the middle are the best - but there's ones at the very back too that arent too bad.

solice · 12-07-2004 3:01pm

i love ryanair!!!! i have never had a problem with them, always found them to be nice and polite. was in stanstead two weeks ago, my baggage was a few kilos over the limit and they didnt charge me. i thought it was really nice of them

as for the window blind thing. i dont know if they should get rid of them. it can get very bright above the clouds, and it is nice to pull the blind down so you are not blinded by the sun

Sleipnir · 12-07-2004 3:02pm

Originally posted by Evil_Bilbo
And for all you tall people - Get the emergency exit seats (I always do). They RULE! tonnes of legroom. You can ask for them if you're being assigned seats, if not, you can leg it on and hop in them. The ones in the middle are the best - but there's ones at the very back too that arent too bad.

They are good alright. But then you have the slit-eyed scan for the other tall passengers while waiting at the gate.

You scan over the heads of the insignificant sheep.
You see a guy who's the same height........
You stare......
He feels someone looking at him and begins his scan.......
and then detects a rival freak.......
and, across the room, your eyes meet.

and so it begins........................................The Race.

Lemming · 12-07-2004 3:12pm

Originally posted by Evil_Bilbo

And for all you tall people - Get the emergency exit seats (I always do). They RULE! tonnes of legroom. You can ask for them if you're being assigned seats, if not, you can leg it on and hop in them. The ones in the middle are the best - but there's ones at the very back too that arent too bad.

I wholeheartedly second that ^^

Had to get three flights in one day (Dublin->Toronto->Halifax->Gander, Newfoundland) and on the two long flights - Transatlantic & Toronto->Halifax - I got the emergency seats. My god was it magnificent!!

On the trans-atlantic flight home had a row to myself so it didn't matter since it was an overnight flight.

gogo · 12-07-2004 3:27pm

I always sit in the emergency seats, ryanair have sequential seating now, so if your boarding card number is under 65 you boarded first, then you run/barge your way to the emergency seats and hey presto loads of room.

From airliners.net (a bunch of airplane nuts)

it is CAA and Jar Ops requirements that the window blinds are open on take off and landing
Having them open during takeoff and landing is for safety, so that the people in emergency row and the cabin crew can instantly see, if there is fire or any other danger at the emergency exit and this specific exit should not be used.

This will no longer be a problem for ryanair anyway as airliners.net says that ryanair are no longer going to have blinds on there planes. cheapskates.

Ryan air charged me 60 euro in dublin a few weeks back for bags being oveweight :mad: was flying to glascow and then on to rome, and nowhere else charged me just fcukers in dublin. The ryanair guys in glascow even told me that they were money grabbing asses in dublin.

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 3:41pm

Originally posted by Evil_Bilbo
I too have noticed this "Open the blinds for take-off and landing" thingy.

But I have a new theory. They only ever ask you to do this WHEN ITS DARK OUTSIDE. I personally think that this is so, if there is a dude buzzing around the runways (or another plane driving about) that it will be clearly able to see where the plane you are in starts and ends, so that they wont collide.

Any takers?

And for all you tall people - Get the emergency exit seats (I always do). They RULE! tonnes of legroom. You can ask for them if you're being assigned seats, if not, you can leg it on and hop in them. The ones in the middle are the best - but there's ones at the very back too that arent too bad.

they ask you to do it all the time... day or night...
other planes wont collide with each other on the runway or taxiing about the airport... everything is planned down to a tee in this regard..

Definitely, the emergency exit seats are the best... was travelling dublin->frankfurt->singapore->auckland and we tried to get them, but couldn't... the 'talls' had already nabbed them.. we even checked in at frankfurt for the second leg singapore to auckland and they were already gone at that stage... i think someone let the cat out of the bag on that respect with regads to the extra legroom...

Another added advantage of the emergency exit door, depending on what aircraft you are on, the nice little hot hostesses sit opposite during take off and landing... its surprising how often they come back to see if 'you are ok'... so for all you single blokes out there... no matter how tall... try and get the emergency exits seats.. unless you are on my flight, that is...:D

Sleipnir · 12-07-2004 3:53pm

Originally posted by Third_Echelon
other planes wont collide with each other on the runway or taxiing about the airport... everything is planned down to a tee in this regard..

LINK

Third_Echelon · 12-07-2004 4:47pm

yes its now the year 2004... not 1977...

and that was exceptional circumstances...

To quote from the article:
"In addition, neither of the 747s could be seen from the control tower, and the airport was not equipped with runway radar"

This is standard today and wouldn't happen in a modern airport.

ChipZilla · 12-07-2004 4:53pm

Originally posted by gogo
From airliners.net (a bunch of airplane nuts)

Yeah I had a look on there. Apparently, a plane taxiing with all the blinds closed is some kind of sign that the plane is carrying cargo only.

Dunno how much truth there is in that...:dunno:

ChipZilla · 12-07-2004 5:00pm

Here's a good airline pilot's forum:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/index.php

Loads of discussions on the how's and why's of window blinds.

Loads of other funny stuff on there too, like how pilots refer to passengers as SLF - 'Self Loading Freight':D

Sleipnir · 13-07-2004 8:32am

Originally posted by Third_Echelon
yes its now the year 2004... not 1977...

and that was exceptional circumstances...

To quote from the article:
"In addition, neither of the 747s could be seen from the control tower, and the airport was not equipped with runway radar"

This is standard today and wouldn't happen in a modern airport.

LINK1
LINK2
LINK3
LINK4 LINK5
LINK6

"It couldn't happen nowadays" would probably be what the papers quote after an accident.
To say the collisions on the ground could 'never' happen is like saying "this ship is unsinkable"

"Complacency is usually the first mistake and often the last"

PHB · 13-07-2004 8:44am

Ryan air is gona introduce nothing but hand luggage?
That would be seriously slick if you ask me, if they cut the price enough like.
I could fit everything I need for a week into a backpack!

Third_Echelon · 13-07-2004 8:56am

Originally posted by Sleipnir
LINK1
LINK2
LINK3
LINK4 LINK5
LINK6

"It couldn't happen nowadays" would probably be what the papers quote after an accident.
To say the collisions on the ground could 'never' happen is like saying "this ship is unsinkable"

"Complacency is usually the first mistake and often the last"

ok.. i was being very general there in saying that it could never happen... it very rarely happens and in the majority of the links you provide there there is zero deaths involved...

LoneGunM@n · 13-07-2004 9:24am

Off topic a touch!

Just spent an hour reading how Michael O'Leary is shafting eveyone .... entertaining read

MOL v Pilots

plus check put the damage done to a BMI flight that flew through a hail storm ... scary stuff :eek:

BMI's Hailstorm damage - Radar turned off!

briano · 13-07-2004 9:40am

Holy ****. There is a photo of that plane here :http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_785167.html

God, I hate flying. And not just because all you "shorties" take the emergency exit seats so you can check out the cute airhostess. Although, when flying from london to singapore someone did offer to give me their emergency seat as they reckoned I probably needed it more than they did. I felt bad about it so I didn't take them up on their offer and just folded all 6 foot 8 of me up into a regular seat.

And here's some more photos of hail damage: http://flightlevel.20megsfree.com/

DMT · 13-07-2004 10:16am

Statisically, sitting the rear of a plane gives you a better chance of survival than sitting in the front in the event of a crash...

Third_Echelon · 13-07-2004 10:21am

The thing is though.. all those people survived... thats what matters... just shows you that it is a safe means of travel...

ChipZilla · 13-07-2004 10:22am

Originally posted by LoneGunM@n
plus check put the damage done to a BMI flight that flew through a hail storm ... scary stuff :eek:

BMI's Hailstorm damage - Radar turned off!

Hope he took out windscreen replacement cover on his insurance

13-07-2004 1:57pm

AFIK you have to put the blinds up in case of a crash so the rescue services can see in to see who is dead and who isn't.

Sleipnir · 13-07-2004 2:19pm

Would they not just use the door? Assuming it's still there of course.

Tommy Vercetti · 13-07-2004 7:20pm

Originally posted by foreign
AFIK you have to put the blinds up in case of a crash so the rescue services can see in to see who is dead and who isn't.

are you supposed to stick your face in the window and smile at them?

munkeehaven · 13-07-2004 7:25pm

maybe they dont want people that are already nervous getting even more freaked out by the fact that they are being lifted in to the air by a colossal aluminium machine that takes off at more than 600 km per hr/sec(i dont know). and that if it crashes they have a very miniscule chance of surviving......aiii!!

Lump · 13-07-2004 10:01pm

Originally posted by Third_Echelon
they have auxilary backup power for these situations, i.e. no engine power... its the same when you are boarding the plane and the engines are not on... everything is run from the auxilary/battery power.

With regards to the point about the light and adjustment to the outside conditions.. thats sounds reasonable... thats what i suspected anyway...

I think you'll find that the engines are on, and in neutral.

john

jesus_thats_gre · 13-07-2004 10:15pm

Third Echelon - Please change your signature as I find it offensive.

Third_Echelon · 14-07-2004 9:12am

Originally posted by Lump
I think you'll find that the engines are on, and in neutral.

john

not necessarily. I have boarded planes where the engines are not on.. in fact most of the time they are not on...

Barry Aldwell · 14-07-2004 9:29am

Originally posted by Lump
I think you'll find that the engines are on, and in neutral.

Jet engines don't have a "neutral". They can be idling, but that would still be dangerous to have passengers walking past.

Also, when an aircraft is on the ground it is usually powered by a ground power supply. The APUs and battery power are a backup (APUs are sometimes used to power certain parts of the aircraft in flight)

Civilian_Target · 14-07-2004 9:42am

Originally posted by Sleipnir
Praise the lo' !
At 6'4", I was tired of jamming my knees against the seat in front to prevent them from reclining.
Got into quite a few struggles for supremacy doing that!

I'm 6'5" and I absolutely know the feeling. Like sitting on the aisle side of the Dublin Bus seat all the time, which seems to confuse quite a lot of people.

Flights - Putting your window blind up?

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