Originally Posted by
televisor
By down do you mean open or closed? SOP in all of Europe (and the few Asian or Australasian airlines I've been on) is all shades opened during takeoff/landing. I know on some aircraft window shades go up to open on the exits, but that varies by plane and size.
It baffles me that windows open isn't SOP on every single aircraft worldwide.
Most accidents requiring evacuation are likely to happen on or around take off or landing - you need to be able to see hazards (fire, water) to be able to get off the aircraft alive, you do not need to be trying to open window shades to see those hazards - and that goes for all windows, not just exits - do you want to be trying to get to the back of the plane only to realize there is fire out of those exit doors? All windows, open, take off and landing, always!