Lights off

[flightins]

Hello
I have got question - why you have to switch off cabin main lights for take off and landing ?

Thanks for your reply.
F. :pilot:

[richkiwi]

Because your eyes adjust to the darker cabin and you will see better if there is an emergency that requires an evacuation. As you know if you go into a dark room from a bright room it takes a while for your eyes to adjust ,its the same reason why the lights are turned off for takeoff/landing during the hours of darkness.
Cheers
Rich

[flightins]

:smile_2:.
Many thanks, Now it's clear !

[lloyd]

In addition to ambient lighting being important to survival, It has also been determined that if lights are on (they are flourescent bulbs with balasts) and if an accident occurs upon landing or takeoff, it is likely that a puncture to the fuselage could cause fuel spilling, and it is likekly that a sudden break to a flourescent bulb that is turned on that would cause major sparks....combine the two and you have greater possibility of causing an explosive fire.

[flightins]

Also thanx.
:tongue_2:

[stanleystan]

When I was on a flight the pilot told us the reason they do it is to have more power available for the engines, but you're answers seem more believable! Would having the lights on affect the engines that much?!

[Docent75]

No, the lights will not daw significent power from the engines. Ask the pilot the generatro capacity of each engine.

[EXASaab]

Ask the pilot the generatro capacity of each engine.




Yea ask that and you will get the deer in headlight look.. especially if you ask me. :grin:

The lights do not "rob" power from the engines. Each engine has a generator that "generates" electricity. It produces the same amount if the engine is at idle or full thurst. Having the lights on will however draw "power"(for a lack of better word) from the electrical source which is a concern if you're having a bad day and are down to your last generator.

I had an incident the other day...after engine start the Capt turned the generators on and all of a sudden it got really quite in the cockpit(the cooling fans for the CRTs quit) due to the fact that AC GEN 1 did not come on line and the AUTO XFER function didn't work either. So the "left side" of the airplane wasn't being powered by either AC GEN 2 or the APU GEN.

What had happenned was a contactor somewhere was sticking... the mechanics fixed it pretty quick while we were swapping to a another aircraft. All they did was turn everything off reboot the system and voila it all worked...
Hence the name.... "Reset Jet".. :grin:

[Docent75]

My recollection was that the large engines generate kilowatts while each light uses a less than a 100 watts. So interior lighting is one of the smaller loads on the electrical system.

[flyingscotsman]

In Australia, the policy is to keep all of the cabin lights ON for take off and landing at night. When I flew with Qantas I asked the f/a about this. She said it was because if there was an emergency, the plane would be much easier to see for the control tower and emergency services on the ground, than if the cabin lights were off.

Being used to flying in Europe with the lights swiched off for take off and landing, I found this really strange, but I suppose it makes sense in a way.

[richkiwi]

This is very weird as the planes landing lights and lights on the wing make planes very visable anyway... This just puts passengers at risk while their eyes adjust to the darkness if there is an accident...Most times the lights will fail in an accident anyway so this policy is ludicrous!!!
Im just glad this is not the policy in New Zealand.

cheers
Rich :plane:

[EXASaab]

All aircraft have Emergency Lighting.. the floor track lighting leading to the exits as well as lights along the fuselage to light the area in case of an evacuation. These lights will come on anytime there is a loss of power.. As pilots we are cautioned not to leave them in the armed positon and power down the aircraft as they will come on and deplete the Emergency Battery supply... On the CRJ these emergency batteries charge almost constatly with a few exceptions.

[richkiwi]

Yes but if there is an accident how often is the aircraft going to be intact... Allowing for ideal situations so emergency lighting to operate .. If the aircraft has broken up etc im sure the emergency lighting will be not be operating....

[EXASaab]

In the scenario you describe.. the aircraft is broken apart.. then you will probably not have to worry about an evacuation..... just pick your way through the wreckage to s safe location... if it's in the day then you will have plenty of light... at night.. just try to get away from the wreckage.