Debunked: Airline Passengers Told To Lower Shades During Chemtrail Spraying

This video is apparently from some sort of Italian radio show, where an airline passenger is interviewed. He tells a story about how he during a commercial flight was told to close the blinds. He claims that the request was very forcefully enforced, where they literally checked every window, and made sure nobody was using video cameras. He also states that he secretly opened the blinds, and saw long trails everywhere.

The statement is used as evidence for chemtrails. The video further tells that contrails never would form right behind the engines, they would always form further behind the plane. This should also be the reason that they asked the passengers to close the blinds; the chemtrail was visible from the passengers windows.



1. Can the Italian passengers statement be debunked? If what he says is true, what are the reasons for airline personnel to demand blinds to be closed? I have no knowledge about it, but I can imagine there could be many reasons.

2. The statement about contrails always forming further behind the plane; I think that have been debunked previously, it, like so many other things, depends a lot on the humidity, temperature, etc.

To me, it seems like one guy who misinterpreted a normal situation into something weird, which then is used as evidence for weird things happening on commercial flights. Which seems far fetched.

Many planes request blinds be closed at certain times - especially red-eye flights where passengers are naturally sleeping, but the sun is still up. Sometimes it's done just for comfort when the sun is at a low angle (it's hard to ask someone on the other side of the plane to close their window when it's blinding you).

Here's some discussion from 2007
https://community.ricksteves.com/tr.../for-flight-attendant-s-why-close-the-windows

Common practice in 2006
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/deciding-whether-a-window-shade-is-open-or-closed/

Quentin Browell, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association in Geneva, says: “Apart from during takeoff and landing, there are no rules or guidelines. It is purely a matter of convenience for the majority of passengers. But there are no sanctions if a passenger demurs and insists on having his or her blind open or shut, provided they behave politely.”

With regard to your flight, Naomi Dulfer, a spokeswoman for Air France, says: “It is likely that the crew asked the passenger to pull the blind down for the comfort of the rest of the passengers onboard as, even though it was light outside the aircraft, passengers on this long-haul flight may still need to sleep based on the time that the flight arrives.”

At American Airlines, it is normal procedure on long daylight flights for cabin crew “to request passengers to close window blinds after meal service so those who wish to sleep may do so,” says Richard Hedges, a spokesman for American in London. “However, if a passenger wishes to keep the window blind open, they may do so.”

Sometimes the windows will be requested to be closed on the ground in hot weather.


Stewardess discussion:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/09/04/flight-attendant-confessions/

Q: Why is it so important to have window shades open for take off and landing and closed midflight during a long flight?

A: That's an interesting question. It is important to have them open during takeoff and landing because if there is an emergency passengers need to see the situation outside as it can help in an evacuation. To be honest, we try to keep window shades closed on long flights because it helps people to fall asleep. Sleeping passengers have fewer requests giving us more time to rest.

I've been on several flights where windows were closed. Some airlines give the stewardesses a stick so they can close the windows without waking people.

I have seen this video before, if I recall I even commented on it (perhaps several months ago, so my comments will be long buried).

As Mick West points out, the request for passengers to close their window shades (during daylight hours)** is quite common. NOT only (As Mr. west points out) because a low angle of the Sun, and the result of disturbing passengers' sleep), but also to be able to view movie screens (the old days, we actually had projectors...like in the cinema, and similar three-color RGB tubes, like the early "Home Theater" TVs)...but, even with modern LED or LCD screens, the streaming sunlight can make the entertainment experience less enjoyable.

**I should also note, the opposite in cabin crew training, during the Take-Off or Landing phases.

Cabins shades OPEN then, because cabin crew are trained to look out and assess conditions 'IF' there is an incident or accident on the ground. Side-note....on night flights, you might notice the interior cabin lights are (supposed) to be dimmed during Take-Off and Landing. A properly trained cabin crew will do this....and it's for night adaptation, in the case of a ground event.

WeedWhacker said:

I have seen this video before, if I recall i even commented on it (perhaps several months ago, so my comments will be long buried).

As Mick West points out, the request for passengers to close their window shades is quite common. NOT only (As Mr. west points out) because a low angle of the Sun, and the result of disturbing passengers' sleep), but also to be able to view movie screens (the old days, we actually had projectors...like in the cinema, and similar three-color RGB tubes, like the early "Home Theater" TVs)...but, even with modern LED or LCD screens, the streaming sunlight can make the entertainment experience less enjoyable.

Click to expand...

I guess your comment was harming the cause. Comments has been disabled on Youtube. And I am apparently a bit tired, I thought it was a new video, but it was 2012, not 2014. I don't hope the video has been debunked on metabunk before!

Gundersen said:

Comments has been disabled on Youtube.

Click to expand...

Well....many videos from YT can be "mirrored" by others (I've done it myself).

It's possible that either (A) I posted on the "original" or (B) On one of the "mirrors" that hadn't disallowed comments. It's sometimes useful to try to track the provenance of such ridiculous claims, especially when "mirrored" with comments disallowed...helps to check the uploader's details, too.

With the advent of seat back screens and continuously operating IFE systems on Domestic flights ( on my airline anyway) anyone opening a shade now gets a death stare from fellow passengers!

As the replies say.. There are many good reasons to close shades during the day, none of them related to the hoax.

Thinking backwards a little, if chemtrail spraying is all the conspiracy fuss that believers claim it is, then by that logic, anyone who opens a blind will instantly bust the operation! Wait, how many passengers travel on airliners each day around the world?

Rico said:

Wait, how many passengers travel on airliners each day around the world?

Click to expand...

Yup!!!

Oh, and....http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_airline_passengers_per_day_worldwide

According to IATA the number of global airline passengers carried in 2011 was 2.8 billion, which means 7,671,233 people flew every day for that given year.

THAT ( ^^^ ) was three years ago, as of this writing. MAN!!! The PTB must really be working overtime, having to track down and "silence" all of those people.....oh, WAIT!! The population of the whole planet is roughly 7 BILLION!

Putting in all those entertainment systems costs a LOT OF MONEY.

But now everyone has to keep the shades down, without asking awkward questions about why....it is enforced by other (unpaid) passengers..... just think about it............

I fly often, always get a window seat, and stare out of it almost unblinking, I swear sometimes my eyeballs dry out.

Day or night there is almost always something interesting to see. I think I'd make a terrible pilot because I'd be admiring some cloud formation or a small cluster of lights on the ground instead of flying the plane.

KAT said:

Putting in all those entertainment systems costs a LOT OF MONEY.

Click to expand...

Not really. Part of most airlines' overhead costs (pun unintended).

See this recent article:
https://hub.united.com/en-us/news/c...nflight-movies-and-tv-on-personal-device.aspx

From what I'm discerning as a "trend" in the industry, some airlines (United, in particular) are attempting to capitalize on the fact that most passengers already possess an electronic device, and the airline wishes to encourage them (I'm guessing, in Economy Class only) to purchase the on-board Wi-Fi that is increasingly available, in order to provide access.

Of course, those in 'BusinessFirst', First Class and Global First will have the FREE options of airline-provided entertainment choices, or using their personal devices.

I hate to say it, but the days of "Please lower your window shades for the comfort of the other passengers" will soon not apply to those in the Economy cabin. It's "Each to his own"......

Trigger Hippie said:

I think I'd make a terrible pilot because I'd be admiring some cloud formation

Click to expand...

Nah!!!!

Believe me....there are (sometimes) enough distractions inside the cockpit to grab your attention....during the majority of the cruise phase of flight....less so. THAT is the time to stare out the windows and contemplate. I've looked at the stars, late at night over the Atlantic or Pacific oceans....a LOT! (In-between my crossword puzzles, of course ....

WeedWhacker said:

THAT is the time to stare out the windows and contemplate. I've looked at the stars, late at night over the Atlantic or Pacific oceans....a LOT!

Click to expand...

Ya, I get lost in that. It's hypnotic. Like looking at a camp fire, always the same but ever changing.

Trigger Hippie said:

It's hypnotic.

Click to expand...

Maybe....but as a pilot, you will be ripped from that reverie if you hear this:

It would be a little too late if the airline staff for this Italian company were trying to do a coverup considering there must've been thousands of flights every day for years where passengers are allowed to look outside and possibly see contrails form.

If the secrecy is used as evidence, then one needs to ask why this alleged suppression tactic isn't happening on a wide scale.

Rico said:

Thinking backwards a little, if chemtrail spraying is all the conspiracy fuss that believers claim it is, then by that logic, anyone who opens a blind will instantly bust the operation! Wait, how many passengers travel on airliners each day around the world?

Click to expand...

Tunnelvisionary said:

It would be a little too late if the airline staff for this Italian company were trying to do a coverup considering there must've been thousands of flights every day for years where passengers are allowed to look outside and possibly see contrails form.

If the secrecy is used as evidence, then one needs to ask why this alleged suppression tactic isn't happening on a wide scale.

Click to expand...

Exactly my thought. Would be the worst attempt to hide the biggest conspiracy ever. And if it is true, there should statistically be millions of eye witness accounts and video/photo evidence of actual chemtrail spraying, not just one Italian guy who thougth it was weird hes blinds should be closed during flight.

WeedWhacker said:

Maybe....but as a pilot, you will be ripped from that reverie if you hear this:

Click to expand...

Nothing like a TCAS RA in IMC to make your hair stand on end.

What happens if the flight crew asks you to lower your shade and you politely tell them, no thank you? Do they force you? Will you get a visit from the FBI (or equivalent) upon landing if you refuse?

Trigger Hippie said:

Ya, I get lost in that. It's hypnotic. Like looking at a camp fire, always the same but ever changing.

Click to expand...

I would always want to keep my shade open. Just too much to see out there.

PS: This is an old vid that I always found too stupid to debunk. It's one anecdotal story and makes no sense anyway, since anyone can see the trails from the ground.

Hama Neggs said:

PS: This is an old vid that I always found too stupid to debunk. It's one anecdotal story and makes no sense anyway, since anyone can see the trails from the ground.

Click to expand...

Yes, it never really made any sense. But it's surprisingly persistent.

Mick West said:

Many planes request blinds be closed at certain times - especially red-eye flights where passengers are naturally sleeping, but the sun is still up. Sometimes it's done just for comfort when the sun is at a low angle (it's hard to ask someone on the other side of the plane to close their window when it's blinding you).

Here's some discussion from 2007
https://community.ricksteves.com/tr.../for-flight-attendant-s-why-close-the-windows

Common practice in 2006
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/deciding-whether-a-window-shade-is-open-or-closed/

Quentin Browell, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association in Geneva, says: “Apart from during takeoff and landing, there are no rules or guidelines. It is purely a matter of convenience for the majority of passengers. But there are no sanctions if a passenger demurs and insists on having his or her blind open or shut, provided they behave politely.”

With regard to your flight, Naomi Dulfer, a spokeswoman for Air France, says: “It is likely that the crew asked the passenger to pull the blind down for the comfort of the rest of the passengers onboard as, even though it was light outside the aircraft, passengers on this long-haul flight may still need to sleep based on the time that the flight arrives.”

At American Airlines, it is normal procedure on long daylight flights for cabin crew “to request passengers to close window blinds after meal service so those who wish to sleep may do so,” says Richard Hedges, a spokesman for American in London. “However, if a passenger wishes to keep the window blind open, they may do so.”

Sometimes the windows will be requested to be closed on the ground in hot weather.


Stewardess discussion:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/09/04/flight-attendant-confessions/

Q: Why is it so important to have window shades open for take off and landing and closed midflight during a long flight?

A: That's an interesting question. It is important to have them open during takeoff and landing because if there is an emergency passengers need to see the situation outside as it can help in an evacuation. To be honest, we try to keep window shades closed on long flights because it helps people to fall asleep. Sleeping passengers have fewer requests giving us more time to rest.

I've been on several flights where windows were closed. Some airlines give the stewardesses a stick so they can close the windows without waking people.

Click to expand...

I also read that it helps maintain cabin temperature. http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1981593/

Jason said:

I also read that it helps maintain cabin temperature. http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1981593/

Click to expand...

As per the video in post #2

Soulfly said:

What happens if the flight crew asks you to lower your shade and you politely tell them, no thank you? Do they force you? Will you get a visit from the FBI (or equivalent) upon landing if you refuse?

Click to expand...

Good question. You paid for the seat so they can't really force you. Many people request window seats. If there was a safety issue then it is different but that is only on takeoff or landing where the crew needs open shades in order to assess for things like fire outside their door in case of an evacuation.

In practice the aforementioned peer pressure usually does the job, but you wouldn't believe how bloody minded some passengers can be. I am glad I never became a flight attendant... I couldn't have their patience with some of the people they have to deal with.

As far as being roused from a reverie is concerned, nothing beats a toilet fire warning at 2.00am. It is the same warning sound you get for an engine fire, but with a different fault caption. I had two idiots trying to smoke in there in the space of a month on the same flight number... !!!!!

TWCobra said:

but you wouldn't believe how bloody minded some passengers can be.

Click to expand...

You don't say? I could see myself refusing out of spite.

TWCobra said:

nothing beats a toilet fire warning at 2.00am.

Click to expand...

?? The A-340 has an ECAM for lavatory smoke alarms? Jeeze....yeah, I can see how annoying that would be.

Of course, Boeing has a "Master Warning" siren if nothing is pushed, turned or changed after about an hour....easy to happen, on long over-water missions. (Though, a position report needs to be made at most every hour...which is the point, there I suppose....).