Bluetooth on airplanes: dangers and pitfalls
Anyone flying by plane is asked to put their smartphone and tablet in flight mode. This deactivates all radio connections such as mobile communications, WLAN and Bluetooth. However, the latter is often needed on board - for example to connect the smartphone or MP3 player with wireless headphones.
- Bluetooth is a radio technology that is used to connect multiple devices over a short distance. For example, you can stream an online radio station via a laptop and play it back via an external Bluetooth speaker . The same principle often applies to the hands-free system in the car.
- In airplanes, all radio signals should be deactivated so that there is no interference with the aircrafts radio signals. There are no known serious incidents, but one thing is certain. More and more airlines are now making exceptions for Bluetooth connections, as this is a short-range radio that reaches a maximum of ten meters.
- If you can use Bluetooth on a plane, first switch on airplane mode on your smartphone. This will also disable the Bluetooth connection. You can simply reactivate this. This means your smartphone is in flight mode - with the exception of the Bluetooth function.
- Attention: On smartphones running Android 10, all Bluetooth connections are cut off as soon as airplane mode is active. An extra activation of the radio as described above is not possible.
- Android 11 and Android 12 should, however, recognize in airplane mode that the Bluetooth connection is still being actively used. It will remain despite activated flight mode.
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