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This is why pilots always dim the cabin lights before landing a plane

Published 16:49 21 Dec 2016 GMT

Tony Cuddihy
This is why pilots always dim the cabin lights before landing a plane

Homelifestyle

You learn something new every day.

This is one we've often wondered about but were always a little bit afraid to ask. After all, air travel can be nerve-wracking even if you don't have a crippling fear of plummeting to your watery death, so the fewer questions and the more whiskey involved, the better. So, why do those cabin lights have to be dimmed during both landing and take-off? It's to let the passengers' eyes adjust to the darkness in the case of an emergency evacuation. We're sorry we asked. Pilot Chris Cooke explained to Travel and Leisure magazine: "Imagine being in an unfamiliar bright room filled with obstacles when someone turns off the lights and asks you to exit quickly." We'd very happily not imagine that, thank you very much.

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