What does the black triangle mean on a plane?

If the crew believe there is an issue with a wing – the flaps, the slats or even engines – looking out of the window is the best way to verify visually their concerns, one way or another. And to do that they will head to the best seat in the house, usually marked by a small black triangle on the interior cabin wall.



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Sci-fi series aside, these black and red, triangle-shaped stickers are actually important reference points for the flight crew — as they're located where the airplane's wings are visible — allowing flight attendants to easily view the flaps and slats on the wings for potential icing problems or issues that may need to ...

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“The black triangle marks the location of what has been called William Shatner's Seat, the seat with the clearest view of the wing,” explained retired aerospace engineer Lee Ballentine after the question was posed on Q&A website Quora.

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If there is a problem on-board and the crew is unsure about the condition of the aircraft, the triangle indicates what window should be used to inspect flaps, slats or engines or look out for icing. This saves important time in case of an emergency, as the crew doesn't has to search the right window to look out.

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There's a logical reason for keeping window shades open during takeoff and landing, which are considered the most critical phases of a flight: safety. In the event of an emergency, flight attendants are trained to look for debris, fire, or smoke outside before initiating an evacuation.

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