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Emirates Planes Could Be Going Windowless (abc.net.au)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: In the future, you could find yourself booking an Emirates flight without a real window seat. The airline has just unveiled a new first class suite on board its latest aircraft that features "virtual windows" instead of real ones. The President of Emirates, Tim Clarke, is hoping it will pave the way for removing all windows from future planes, which he says will make them lighter and faster. "What we may have [in the next 20 years] is aircraft that are, and I hate to say this to a number of passengers, windowless," he told the BBC. So there's no windows on the outside ... But Mr Clarke says on the inside there will be "a full display of windows," which will beam in the images from the outside. This will be done using fibre-optic camera technology. So, instead of being able to see directly outside, passengers will view images projected from outside the aircraft -- which is almost like the real thing.

6 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Well that's just depressing by ZorinLynx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They want to take away the ONE THING I love about flying? Seeing the world from above the clouds is beautiful and helps make the hellish experience of commercial airline travel bearable.

    What the hell is wrong with these airlines?

    1. Re:Well that's just depressing by pr0fessor · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually I thought it sounded like a great idea for a house... Fewer real windows would make the house more energy efficient, reduce the places someone could enter without permission, or peep. Simulated widows could be recorded for security and include IR night vision. (I don't know if the power required to use the simulated windows would off set any saving though you wouldn't need the displays on 24-7 probably motion activated so they only ran if you where in the room)

      You would want to keep some real windows for airflow and in the event of an emergency.

  2. Re:What about real ones for safety needs? by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Hmm...but who's to say they'll be beaming in what's "really" out there, vs what they want you to see?

    And well, what happens when there's a glitch in the system and all the virtual windows go dark?

    Queue the claustrophobia.....

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  3. Re:What about real ones for safety needs? by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I'm not a fuckin' coward -- I'll take nice views even if there's an 0.00000000001% chance of being sucked out of the plane.

  4. Re:What about real ones for safety needs? by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was on a plane with a fuel leak from a fuel pump cover on the wing. Pointed it out to the flight attendant, one of the pilots walked back and looked out the window. He determined that it wasn't severe enough to be a concern, and we made a normal landing at our destination (we were only about 40 min away when this happened).

  5. Re:What about real ones for safety needs? by Peter+P+Peters · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was on a plane with a fuel leak from a fuel pump cover on the wing. Pointed it out to the flight attendant, one of the pilots walked back and looked out the window. He determined that it wasn't severe enough to be a concern, and we made a normal landing at our destination (we were only about 40 min away when this happened).

    I just watched show on TV last night that had a story of a mid-flight engine failure. A passenger was recording it when over the loud speaker the pilot asked over the PA that if anyone notices any changes with that engine the they should let the flight crew know. So yeah, windows for passengers do come in handy...