# Airliner Window Shade Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998 "2000-10-06T18:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/21 "2001-10-10T19:20:40Z")
I’ve wondered about this regulation too, and found it wasn’t always required. I asked a flight attendant recently about it. She told me it wasn’t an FAA requirement, but many airlines go beyond FAA req’s. This airline (ATA) claimed it was because the flight attendants might possibly see something outside the plane (debris, support vehicles, wing tips falling off?) that the pilots might miss. Apparently that has happened. So this just increases their safety margins a sliver. Made sense to me. another requirement on that airline, but not an FAA req - they kill all the cabin lights on night takeoffs & landings (some airlines just turn off half the lights). Their reasoning is that if there’s an accident, the exits are well lit & will stand out better, and peoples’ eyes will be more adjusted to the dark if the plane loses electrical power. Me, I just think the dark is cool : ) ---
**Author:** ![Rillian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rillian)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/22 "2001-10-10T19:53:34Z")
I didn’t see this thread last year, but have had the same “please raise your shade” experience on Delta flights. Some time last fall I spotted the following in the Daily Q&A column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and clipped it for my travel folder. > [@](#): > > \*\*Q:\*\*_I was on a Delta flight recently and, before takeoff, pulled the window shade down because I was being blinded by the sun. A flight attendent told me to raise it, saying it was required by federal law. Is that so?_ > > **A:** There’s no federal regulation requiring shades to be raised during takeoff or landing, said Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the FAA. Delta spokesman John Kennedy, speculating that this may have been a case of miscommunication, said the airline has no such regulation, either. ---
**Author:** ![mapsmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@mapsmith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mapsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/23 "2001-10-11T05:48:17Z")
I believe on FlyerTalk, it was explained that in case of emergency, the Flight Attendants would be able to see if there were fire outside the plane, and prohibit opening of an exit door into a Fire Situation. Makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Photog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@Photog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Photog)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/24 "2001-10-11T12:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **lucwarm** _ > By the way Photog, that was the best troll I’ve seen in a long time - I especially like how you gratuitously mentioned the constitution. My mention of the Constitution was in response to the use of the word **‘right’**. In the United States, when speaking of rights, one is generally referring to privileges afforded by the first 10 amendments to the Constitution - The Bill of Rights. The word ‘rights’, however is thrown around so often, it has come to mean ‘whatever I want’. So, when **Anthracite** wrote, “They have no right…”, my response was that the airlines are not obligated, Constitutionaly or otherwise…blah, blah, blah. But as I said, nevermind. I made the mistake of not checking the date of the OP before offering my opinion on a topic that someone else reopened. Sorry to perpetuate it. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/25 "2001-10-11T14:01:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Survey1215 \* > \*\*I just got back from the airport following a flight in nice new Boeing 717 with all of 11 hours flight time on it (a fact the plane’s crew reminded us about repeatedly). It even had a bit of new car smell to it, which beats the odors I’ve encountered on other flights. > To my question: During take off and then landing, the “first officer” asked everyone to please leave their window shades open. I had never thought about it, but we are always told to do so. Why? \*\* A 717? Do they make those? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/26 "2001-10-11T14:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > > A 717? Do they make those? \*\* Not many, but yes. It was called the McDonnell-Douglas MD-95 before Boeing bought the company. It looks like an MD-83. The 717 name once upon a time referred to the KC-135, but had never before been used commercially. [Here](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=044640&WxsIERv=TWNEb25uZWxsIERvdWdsYXMgTUQtMTE%3D&WdsYXMg=TWFuZGFyaW4gQWlybGluZXM%3D&QtODMg=SG9uZyBLb25nIC0gQ2hlayBMYXAgS29rIEludGVybmF0aW9uYWwgKEhLRyAvIFZISEgp&ERDLTkt=Q2hpbmEgLSBIb25nIEtvbmc%3D&ktODMp=QXVndXN0IDI0LCAxOTk5&WNEb25u=SmVycnkgWUFV&xsIERvdWdsY=Qi0xODE1MQ%3D%3D&MgTUQtODMgKE=V2l0aCBpbGwtZmF0ZWQgc2lzdGVyIEItMTUwIGluIGJhY2tncm91bmQu&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MjEwMzE%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MTk5OS0wOC0yNA%3D%3D&static=yes) is an example of why Mandarin Airlines might ask its passengers to _close_ their window shades before taxiing. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/27 "2001-10-11T14:18:13Z")
Now that Boeing bought McDonald-Douglas, all new DC-9s (or MD-88s, was that their last MD designation?) are called 717. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/28 "2001-10-11T15:45:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*[Here](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=044640&WxsIERv=TWNEb25uZWxsIERvdWdsYXMgTUQtMTE%3D&WdsYXMg=TWFuZGFyaW4gQWlybGluZXM%3D&QtODMg=SG9uZyBLb25nIC0gQ2hlayBMYXAgS29rIEludGVybmF0aW9uYWwgKEhLRyAvIFZISEgp&ERDLTkt=Q2hpbmEgLSBIb25nIEtvbmc%3D&ktODMp=QXVndXN0IDI0LCAxOTk5&WNEb25u=SmVycnkgWUFV&xsIERvdWdsY=Qi0xODE1MQ%3D%3D&MgTUQtODMgKE=V2l0aCBpbGwtZmF0ZWQgc2lzdGVyIEItMTUwIGluIGJhY2tncm91bmQu&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MjEwMzE%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MTk5OS0wOC0yNA%3D%3D&static=yes) is an example of why Mandarin Airlines might ask its passengers to _close_ their window shades before taxiing. \*\* _Shudder_ - that’s one creepy photo. And that’s also the longest URL I’ve ever seen in vBulletin code on the SDMB - I had no idea it would actually work. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/29 "2001-10-11T19:37:17Z")
Oh, man, are you really going to make me jump into this? You should have quit while you were ahead…you actually seemed sensible and made a decent point. Since this is a resurrected thread, you won’t mind a little hijack as well, right? Good. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Photog \* > \*\*My mention of the Constitution was in response to the use of the word _‘right’_. In the United States, when speaking of rights, one is generally referring to privileges afforded by the first 10 amendments to the Constitution - The Bill of Rights. The word ‘rights’, however is thrown around so often, it has come to mean ‘whatever I want’. \*\* That’s a good place to start. Just so we’re all on the same page, let’s define terms: > [@](#): > > right > n. > That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting. > \ > Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition, or nature. > Something, especially humane treatment, claimed to be due to animals by moral principle. > A just or legal claim or title. By contrast… > [@](#): > > priv·i·lege priv·i·lege (prv-lj, prvlj) > n. > A special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste. Now, are we discussing the Bill of Rights, or the Bill of Privileges? If it’s the latter, then I apologize for jumping on you, as in my ignorance I am entirely unfamiliar with that document. If on the other hand, we are talking about the Bill of Rights, part of the Constitution, then I must beg to differ. The Bill of Rights does not grant privileges. It enumerates specific Rights, and it [recognizes](http://www.constitution.org/cons/constitu.htm#bor11) and officially acknowledges the existence of rights that are NOT specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights. In fact, the Bill of Rights begins by stating its purpose: > [@](#): > > The conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added. See the problem? It’s not a set of privileges granted to the citizenry…it’s a set of restrictions upon the Government, in order to prevent its misconstruing or abusing its powers. > [@](#): > > \*\* > So, when _Anthracite_ wrote, “They have no right…”, my response was that the airlines are not obligated, Constitutionaly or otherwise…blah, blah, blah. > But as I said, nevermind. I made the mistake of not checking the date of the OP before offering my opinion on a topic that someone else reopened. Sorry to perpetuate it. \*\* No, you decided to be a smart ass, and while doing so put your foot firmly in your mouth. Even if what you said above (that the only rights are the “privileges” granted by the Bill of Rights) were true, then this would still look stupid, because there was nothing in the Constitution that even remotely resembled “The right of large corporations to withhold regulatory information on demand from its customers shall not be infringed.” Very sorry for the hijack. Photog, if you want to argue this further, start a new thread and I’ll be glad to meet you there. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998/30 "2001-10-11T22:03:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe\_Cool \* > \*\* Photog, if you want to argue this further, start a new thread and I’ll be glad to meet you there. \*\* Best idea I’ve heard all day. As to the OP, this seems like it might be one of those things in a profession that everyone “knows,” even though it’s not the case. So I’m declaring this one asked and answered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airliner-window-shade-question/35998.md?page=1)