Why do airliners have cabin windows? Options

[Julien]

Some BEA Tridents had a table so you could sit as a 4. The seats behind faced backwards

Now that sounds like a more civalised way to travel.

On an easyjet flight the other week there is not even room for me to get the tray down! I would have absolutley no hope of ever getting in the "brace" position either.

Julien

[pigsty]

Maybe it's a good thing the windows aren't any bigger, after spending over 20 years in the pointy end of airliners with big windows, I have seen more than my fair share of the old codgers (I'm getting there too !!) with cases of cancer on the face and left arm, not sure if there is any scientific correlation or not, but it makes you wonder doesn't it ??

I doubt there's any connection. The glazing in airliners should block the UV. Also, to get cancer on the arm, you'd need to fly with your sleeve rolled up; and for it to affect only left arms, there would have to be no sunlight ever on the other side of the aircraft. Finally, is skin cancer a particular problem among pilots, who are bathed in sunlight all the time?

Did I read once that one reason for the brace position is to ensure that your teeth are preserved for post-mortem checking?

[Phil W]

I thought the brace position was so that you could kiss your *rs* goodby!

[Paul @ Parkes682...]

Hi All
On a flight from Birmingham to Alicante we were at 37,000 ft and i was looking out at a Boeing 757 about 1,000 below in my 10 o'clock travelling along the airway allotted to both of us but where seperated .Suddenly a executive jet came betwwen us at our altitude barely a few hundred yards away going in the opposite direction.The closing speed was really fast i had to look back through the window and just caught part of his reg C-???? .
Im glad we do have windows,even in the toilets who the hell is going to look in at 37,000 ft with your trousers round your ankes.

[FLCH]

I doubt there's any connection. The glazing in airliners should block the UV. Also, to get cancer on the arm, you'd need to fly with your sleeve rolled up; and for it to affect only left arms, there would have to be no sunlight ever on the other side of the aircraft. Finally, is skin cancer a particular problem among pilots, who are bathed in sunlight all the time?

Did I read once that one reason for the brace position is to ensure that your teeth are preserved for post-mortem checking?

Funny thing is Sean is that we are bathed in sunlight for hours on end, flying in short sleeved shirts, we cannot put up a solid shade other than the one on the plane that allows you to see through it so you don't miss any traffic.

The older pilots are more senior generally and get to mostly fly to Europe where coming over at night is not a problem, but going back westbound you are out of the weather within 20-30 mins after take off, the sun rises and stays on your left side for the next 7-8 hours.

I don't know if the windows have UV protection or not but the forward and front side windshields are electrically heated to protect from birdstrikes and are about 2 inches thick, so there may be some protection there.

I don't worry about the brace position because I'll be the guy that has sucked up his seat ! I'll be easy to find......

[Mike]

Im glad we do have windows,even in the toilets who the hell is going to look in at 37,000 ft with your trousers round your ankes.

Superman?

I once saw a forest fire out of my window as I passed over California in the dark. What an unusual and impressive sight that was!

[eng]

Windows!! Just something else to pee off the engineers that have to inspect the damn things for scratches/cracks/distortion/security....blah, blah, or worse still, replace the lot!

And there ain't no pulling over into some little roadside tent to have you're crack filled either!!!

Eng (who actually never has to inspect the window's!! )

[TonyT]

I thought the brace position was so that you could kiss your *rs* goodbye!

Until the successful ditching in the Hudson, We always believed the only reason to carry lifejackets and flotation cushions was to mark the crash site

[Dave Fleming]

The reason for windows is simple - passengers want to see where they are going, and have natural light.

As a frequent flyer, I usually grab a window seat so no-one wakes me up to get past!! I can fall asleep before take off and usually wake up in the flare at the other end.

[dylan the rabbit]

I like windows on aircraft. Stops the feeling of claustrophobia for me.

We flew back on Etihad Airways this Christmas. They have windows in the loo's of the aircraft. I like that. Watching the world go by as you tinkle.

[pigsty]

I don't know if the windows have UV protection or not but the forward and front side windshields are electrically heated to protect from birdstrikes and are about 2 inches thick, so there may be some protection there.

Bound to be. Think about - you can't get a sun-tan in your own home, even behind a quarter-inch of very ordinary glass.

[kev1n]

a swiss airline was once asked if they wanted the windows in the toilet to have curtains...

the reply was "There are no 35,000 foot tall perverts in Switzerland"

[PHaTNesS]

This is a funny thread!!!

One of the best catfights on BM for ages - and it's about WINDOWS! And not even the Microsoft variety!!

My own "view" on this (excuse the pun) - windows on passenger planes are for looking out of (passengers) and into (emergency services). They are there for the benefit of human beings. Cargo planes do not have windows.

I, personally, benefit greatly from having a window on the plane. The downside, like FLCH sez, is flying to DEN, SEA or LAS in which case i will have the glaring sun in my eyes for 10 hours straight on the way there, and for about 5 hours on the way back in summer!

As for UV protection - i thought the laminate layers in the windows provide total protection from that. At 39,000ft it's the cosmic rays that will sterilise you!

And windows will be getting bigger with the advent of all-composite fuselages - but I don't have a clue how they are going to mend dings and holes in the side caused by ground handling errors?

Enjoy the view!

[Tripehound]

after spending over 20 years in the pointy end of airliners with big windows, I have seen more than my fair share of the old codgers (I'm getting there too !!) with cases of cancer on the face and left arm

A Viz top tip:

Airline Pilots - aviod skin cancer by not flying with the window down and your arm hanging out the side. At 37,000 ft you won't see any attractive pedestrians anyway.

[Mike]

One of the best catfights on BM for ages - and it's about WINDOWS! And not even the Microsoft variety!!

I wouldn't have believed it unless I'd seen it myself... sadly.

Cosmic rays eh? That explains a lot