Windowshades up for takeoff and landing?

[Recursion]

Is this a thing in the US too or just India? (I think I remember it in the US, but I may be projecting backwards there. )

What's the reasoning behind that?

[hack89]

1. If you crash you can see what is happening outside

Conversely rescuers can see inside the plane.

[elleng]

2. I don't think its a thing in the U.S.,

don't recall ever hearing it announced. Tray tables and seatbacks up, and seatbelts fastened, right.

[OriginalGeek]

3. I leave mine up the entire flight

I like looking out.

Then again, I've never been on a flight longer than about 3 hours so I've never tried to sleep on a plane.

But I never heard that you were supposed to do it.

[Locut0s]

5. I get nervous if I can't see out during landing and take-off...

I like to be able to see the ground and what the plane is doing. Otherwise the normal altitude changes, bumps, turbulence, etc is disconnected from what I can see the plane is actually doing and it makes me feel uneasy.

[Locut0s]

4. I think I remember hearing this before. It seems it's varies a lot...

From this online discussion it seems it varies a lot from airline to airline:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/91232/

The reasoning seems to be that in an emergency landing they want to make sure rescuers can see into the cabin. But it seems only some airlines ask you to do this.

[Major Nikon]

7. The airlines are free to implement their own safety requirements

Which may go above and beyond what the FAA requires.

[madinmaryland]

6. Only if the sun is blasting in the window on a late summer afternoon and they

want to keep the plane cooler. I've had them tell you to close the blinds when leaving the plane to keep it cooler while they change the crew and ready it for the next flight.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Please return your seatbacks and traytables to their upright positions...

I don't remember anything about window shades though. Maybe I've just never paid attention because I'm too busy looking out the window during takeoffs and landings.

[jmowreader]

9. It's so the pilot can see out the side of the plane, of course