An improved window shade system, thought to be most beneficial in the Aviation and mass transit context. This system has a series of individual window shade units, each having a multilayer shade configuration. Such multilayer shade configuration provides for a great degree of control with regard to the amount of incidental light actually allowed to enter a passenger compartment. Further, each individual window shade unit is fully automated and may be linked to an adjacent window shade unit in a daisy chain fashion. This system presents novel features in the window shade itself, within the electronic components that operate the window shade, and the relationship between the system and its operators.