What does this control do on new airplanes?
On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.
On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.
What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.
aircraft
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
add a comment |
On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.
On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.
What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.
aircraft
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
6
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
26
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11
add a comment |
On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.
On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.
What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.
aircraft
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
On the last two planes I took, just last week, there was the control shown in this (very blurry, sorry) photo. The planes were Boeing 787-8. It seems to be made of two half-circle buttons.
On the first plane, pressing the half buttons moved the blue light up or down. On the second, nothing happened. Nothing else seemed to change. I paid attention to the window and cabin light but nothing happened. Since these planes had no apparent window shade, I thought the control would operate a mechanism to act as shade.
What is this control for? What is doing something? Could it have been not operational on one or both planes? Seems an unlikely coincidence, particularly since the behavior of the blue light was different.
aircraft
aircraft
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
asked Dec 4 '18 at 0:41
ItaiItai
28.9k969155
28.9k969155
6
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
26
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11
add a comment |
6
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
26
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11
6
6
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
26
26
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.
The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.
The crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode". They can also control it to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
|
show 2 more comments
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "273"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f126700%2fwhat-does-this-control-do-on-new-airplanes%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.
The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.
The crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode". They can also control it to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
|
show 2 more comments
It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.
The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.
The crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode". They can also control it to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
|
show 2 more comments
It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.
The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.
The crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode". They can also control it to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
It is windows shade adjustment. In the new B787 lines, you press up/down button to make the windows darker or brighter.
The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it. It's not as quick as a curtain.
The crew can control it to simulate the night on long flight. So the button will end up being useless during "night mode". They can also control it to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
edited Dec 4 '18 at 14:22
AndyT
1,7091225
1,7091225
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
answered Dec 4 '18 at 0:45
BinhBinh
773212
773212
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
|
show 2 more comments
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
30
30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
"the process can take minutes" Truly we have come far
– OganM
Dec 4 '18 at 3:30
9
9
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
The other reason the crew can control is is to brighten all windows during landing. This replaces the instruction to passengers to open all windows before landing (the usual routine; besides putting up tray tables and putting down arm rests). The rationale is that in case of an evacuation, passengers should be able to see whether evacuation on their side of the plane is safe i.e. no fires.
– MSalters
Dec 4 '18 at 11:49
1
1
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
Can't help feeling that saying "Please lift the window shades before landing" is a simpler solution
– user568458
Dec 4 '18 at 14:01
2
2
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
@user568458 Convenient in the case where the plane is not very full (admittedly does not happen often these days, and generally not on the fancier planes anyway) and a passenger has closed the shade in another row which is empty (e.g. on the opposite side of the plane)...since there is no passenger there to open it, and the passenger who originally closed it would have to get out of their seat to open it.
– user3067860
Dec 4 '18 at 14:43
6
6
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
"The process takes minutes so you might not be able to realize it." - huh? Maybe I didn't perceive this very clearly as it was during a night flight, but when I tried this the first (and only, so far) time I flew on a 787, the lights on the outside became invisible almost instantly (i.e. in a matter of seconds) after pressing the down button to reduce window transparency to a minimum.
– O. R. Mapper
Dec 4 '18 at 15:34
|
show 2 more comments
Thanks for contributing an answer to Travel Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2ftravel.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f126700%2fwhat-does-this-control-do-on-new-airplanes%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
6
gizmodo.com/5829395/…
– Nate Eldredge
Dec 4 '18 at 1:06
26
Wings stay on, wings fall off.
– Andrew Grimm
Dec 4 '18 at 4:11