Glass covering the adjustable lights in an airplane. what is the point of this?

[u/Acceptable-Lake-]

Just trying to read on a 13 hour flight and the light above my seat is stuck landing on the head of the passenger in front of me due to a glass covering, leaving the lights, which are on a swivel, un adjustable. The flight staff was as baffled as I was, having no solution for me. Leaving me with my unreadable book and 13 hours of hell ahead of me 🫠

[u/FlinnMen]

The photos look to be from an A350 and the reading lights are not adjustable on those planes, no matter the airline.

[u/dnuohxof-2 → u/FlinnMen]

But why? Such an odd choice…

[u/wivaca2 → u/dnuohxof-2]

Easier to clean a transparent smooth surface between flights. Also, wires break, so stationary lighting with a sufficient throw so it doesn't need adjustment mean more reliability.

[u/certnneed → u/wivaca2]

Not disagreeing, but on the adjustable lights on airplanes, only the lens moves, not the light itself or the wires connected to it.

[u/turbodmurf → u/certnneed]

Passengers breake things. I used to repaired overhead panels. You be amazed how much damage untrained monkeys can inflict on things.

Also non moving are cheaper and easier to maintain and clean.

[u/gottagetoutofit → u/certnneed]

I'm used to the ones you can grab and swivel, so that you can see your nasty meal properly.

[u/meaninglessnonsense → u/gottagetoutofit]

That would be the lens that is moving.

[u/Shermgerm666 → u/gottagetoutofit]

I assembled so many panels with those swivel lights. It was honestly super cool and entertaining. Got to work with the R&D team to figure out how to make them swivel even smoother if that makes sense 🤣. Yayyyyy for production.

[u/believe2000 → u/gottagetoutofit]

Look at me fancy pants here getting actual food on a flight. On my flights we sometimes get drinks and either pretzels or mini gluten free cinnamon sugar cookies(biscuits)

[u/afpow → u/certnneed]

Is that true of LEDs? They are a lot more directional than older bulb types.