The stewardess is right - sort of.
It is to allow the eyes to adjust to the destination in case there's an accident. By having the blinds open and the lights off your night vision adjusts to the ambient conditions at the airport. If there's a crash and you need to get out you're not half-blind when you leave the aircraft as your eyes have adjusted to external conditions. (Eyes take about 10 minutes to adjust to dark conditions.)

That's the theory anyway.
(azgiles, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 15:57, 1 reply)

On that basis,
people would be basically blind every time they left the house after dark. But they aren't. Your eyes may take a while to adjust fully, but they adjust enough pretty darned quickly...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 16:23, closed)

You do know that the need for it to be done and the reason why it is done aren't the same thing though don't you?
You can dispute that it is necessary as much as you want, but that might not mean that it's not the reason it's done anyway.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 16:26, closed)

This is true.
Reasons that are not reasons to.

But, still: people presumably spent time and energy passing the regulation when they could have been drinking tea, or in the park, or sleeping, so - assuming the rule isn't utterly arbitrary - there ought to be a decent reason to...
:)
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 16:28, closed)

I do think the other bits about orientation and being able to shine flashlights in are probably at play too.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 16:32, closed)

ok guys, I give in
I'll pay for you both to get laid, it looks like you need it
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 16:35, closed)

Best answer yet.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 19 Oct 2011, 17:21, closed)

What about me?
I'm feeling left out now.
(azgiles, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 17:22, closed)

Anorak mode on!
It takes about ten minutes to fully adjust to darkness (twenty minutes if from full sunlight), within three to four minutes you're eyes have gained about 80%(ish) of full night vision.

In a plane crash the first thirty seconds to one minute are supposedly critical (getting your belt off etc.) so having your eyes at least partially adjusted is supposed to maximise survival rates.

Next time you go out into a dark street (no street lights) pause and see how long it actually takes before your eyes start to see what's there and not what you think is there.
(azgiles, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 17:21, closed)

*notes*

( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 19 Oct 2011, 20:31, closed)