SOP for night flights
Mar 16, 2026 | 10:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: UK
Programs: BA(E)C, ALL, Virgin Red
Posts: 90
SOP for night flights
Hi all,
I don't know if I'm being picky but last night on the JER -> LGW during take-off (pitch black outside), the lights weren't dimmed at all. Was wondering if it's new SOP and if not whether I should submit a comment to BA so crew can be made aware of the SOP for departures during hours of darkness?
I don't know if I'm being picky but last night on the JER -> LGW during take-off (pitch black outside), the lights weren't dimmed at all. Was wondering if it's new SOP and if not whether I should submit a comment to BA so crew can be made aware of the SOP for departures during hours of darkness?
Mar 16, 2026 | 11:46 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GfL, LH SEN,Avanti Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,214
Hi all,
I don't know if I'm being picky but last night on the JER -> LGW during take-off (pitch black outside), the lights weren't dimmed at all. Was wondering if it's new SOP and if not whether I should submit a comment to BA so crew can be made aware of the SOP for departures during hours of darkness?
I don't know if I'm being picky but last night on the JER -> LGW during take-off (pitch black outside), the lights weren't dimmed at all. Was wondering if it's new SOP and if not whether I should submit a comment to BA so crew can be made aware of the SOP for departures during hours of darkness?
Mar 16, 2026 | 3:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: London - LHR
Programs: Karahi Express, BA GGL, BA CCR, BA GfL, BA Group 0, Hilton Honours Diamond
Posts: 1,219
Mar 16, 2026 | 3:44 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 240
Same, and for taking photos or a video of the view. A few times coming back into London we've had spectacular views of the city but they hadn't dimmed the lights until it's too late.
Mar 16, 2026 | 3:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2025
Posts: 37
I seem to recall this was an issue that the 767s used to have. Occasionally we would either get disco lights, or the lights would not dim / turn off.
Mar 16, 2026 | 4:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: BA Silver, SAS Diamond , TK Elite
Posts: 455
Is the safety reason so that passengers and crews eyes gain a degree of night vision in the event of having to evacuate the plane? The only thing I can think of and always like to be educated on these things.
Mar 16, 2026 | 4:14 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 21,880
When evacuations take place only the emergency lights are on which are much dimmer than normal, so it is to allow the eyes to get used to a lower level of lighting, the cabin should never be completely dark.
Mar 16, 2026 | 4:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: BA Silver, SAS Diamond , TK Elite
Posts: 455
Mar 16, 2026 | 4:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 35
Im presuming this was a baby bus of some sort? Like CIHY I also had the odd incident when the lights wouldnt dim. Its possible they forgot, but its also possible that the lights had frozen and the only way to unfreeze it on the baby bus is a CIDS reset instigated by the flight crew it cant be done by the cabin crew, and it cant be done in flight only on the ground.