Inconsistent policies regarding window shades...
 

Just curious, has anybody else noticed that some airlines require that "all window shades be up for takeoff and landing" while others do not? Even regional affiliates for the same carrier often differ. CO mainline, CO Express, DL mainline, WN mainline, FL do not require window shades to be up. ASA (DL rj operator) and Comair (also DL rj operator) do require window shades be up. Whats the story here? Its not really that big of a deal to me, but I just wondered why the other airlines require this.

Btw, I searched this forum but was not able to find any previous posts about the subject.

I believe window shades are supposed to be up in the event of an emergency during takeoff or landing. One or two down is probably no big deal, but the majority of them should be up, including emergency exit rows. With some carriers not 'requiring' this, is it perhaps lax enforcement by the flight crews?

Having the window shades up allow your eyes to adapt to the lighting outside at time or take-off or more specifically arrival, plus allows you to see any potential problems such as potential obstructions, fires, etc, in the event an emergency evacuation is necessary. I.e. if there is a fire on the right wing, you will be able to see it, look at the left side, see no fire, and exit to the left.

As far as Federal Requirements, I would think it's required - but enforcement varies depending on airline, flight crew specifically and their training/mood/etc.

SDF_Traveler

Yes, the SkyWest and Atlantic Coast Airlines operated United Express flights I have been on, sitting in the emergency-exit aisle seat, the FAs asked that I had the window shade up.

It has happened a couple of times on wide-body jets as well.

Given how random it is as to whether the crews enforce this or not, I'm guessing it's not mandated by the FAA.

Thats what I was thinking. If it were a true FAA reg, then it would be nearly universaly enforced since the penalties for non-compliance would be stiff. Eg: I have heard that the penalty for taking off with a pax standing in the aisle is something like $10k per incident.

I asked and was told why
 

Here's the setup:

I was on a last minute flight from PHX to LAS. I did not notice until I was already past security that the flgiht number had four digits, meaning that this was not America Worst, it was America Worst Express, on one of their famous Canadair vomit comets.

On the vomit comet I found Steve the flight attendant, a very funny guy who had his preflight patter DOWN, and was funnier than most of the Leno monologues recently, and they are pretty damn funny!

We started taxiing and I found that the late afternoon usn was right in my eyes in seat 1B, so I put shade down. Steve said "Sir, we have to have that shade up for takeoff." I said "Steve, I am in no way arguing or refusing to obey a crewmember instruction, but I am really curious...why exactly do we need this window shade up? This windowshade cannot possibly effect the takeoff performance of this fine aircraft.

Steve said, "No, silly, that's in the unlikely event of an aborted takeoff, I have to be able to see out to tell which side of the airplane is safe to evacuate from."

I said, "Steve, in the unlikely event of an aborted takeoff, I will personally be doing all the evacuating ANY of us needs, right here in this seat!"

Steve said, "Oh, that's FUNNY! I'm going to use that!"

And that's the answer I was given. BTW, Steve should be an FA trainer. The man is not only hysterically funny, but very personable, a fabulous ambassador for his airline, and made the trip a real treat.

--Paul

Thai Air has the same requirement - I was surprised, it was the first time I've heard it. They even asked people to put the shades up while doing their seatbelt, seatback and tray table check.

I had a similar experience with the FA on a puddle jumper from YVR to SEA. I guess having such a small work area and limited flight time allows you to keep things more interesting.

Hmmm..
 

I fly on a lot of foriegn airlines and do mostly international travel -- but also take internal US flights on occassion, plus I must take US domestic flights to get to my international gateway city.

Most announcements I am used to hearing typically go "Ladies & Gentleman, in preperation for landing (or we are now on final approach) - please ensure your seatbelt is tightly fastened, seatback upright, tray table is up, TV units are secured and locked in the arm rest, window shades are up and please secure any cabin baggage you have used in flight for landing".

The last two seem to vary and obviously the TV units secured and locked in the arm rest applies to flights with personal passenger TV units. At this time they often go through and collect headsets and menus as well (note: unless menu is bound to a leather covering, I tend to take it and put it away in advance).

The above is not an exact wording and often announcements vary -- but the above is typical. Even US carriers that do not announce the window shades do go through the cabin and open them prior to arrival, especially if on an overnight flight -- about 15-20 minutes out, they go through and open them (sometimes they'll leave it to about 10 minutes for International First Class).

With window shades, many long-haul international flights cover many time zones, day/night blur together, and as an example, flying Eastbound Pacific (East is Beast), Trans-Polar in Summer, or Middle East (Dubai) to New York (depending on time of flight & season - 10+ hrs of a 14.5 hr flight in daylight), the night time is often very short and the FA's lower all window shades consistently, at least in premium cabins, to allow pax to sleep. When I walk back to economy to stretch, it's always interesting to see several window shades open, light blasting in, & people up and about -- while up front in J or F it's dark and quiet with most people asleep.

On non-US carriers, the announcement is often done in several languages, including English - typically the language of the carrier first, followed by any secondary regional languages, and then English. Usually the English is good, but sometimes can be difficult to understand with a heavy Asian or Dutch accent at times, but for Flight Deck announcements on Trans-Pac with Asian carriers, many times it'll be British (Australian/New Zealand/South African) accents, but at times it can be difficult to understand if the pilot/first officer is Asian, SE Asian such as Malay, or Arabic.

One area of debate I have seen before in other places - a couple of carriers keep interior lighting on for night landings, while the far majority will dim the cabin to match the darkness outside if a night landing. Sometimes "mood lighting" which varies in colours depending on time of day, which is supposed to help with jetlag/time adjustment, will be left on, other times it'll be off at landing.

Safety procedure differences can really vary once overseas. While straying slightly off the original topic, I feel some carriers like Qantas have a good pre-flight safety demo, others are average, some outright boring and/or of no useful info, some minimal, and others will go as far as demostrating the emegency lighting and will turn on the aisle lights and exit signs above exits during the demo. This is a good procedure, IMHO. If you've never seen the emergency floor lighting activated and exit signs illuminated, it's good to see it at least once - plus it gets the attention of passengers during the safety demo. ^

SDF_Traveler