Bluetooth on an airline forbidden?

Kensington, in the instructions for their BT mouse , warns against using a BT mouse on an airline? Is that true? Has anyone ever heard of a prohibition on BT on an airline?

 

You'll find that most bluetooth devices come with such disclaimers or warnings on them. The last time I was flying I was told to turn off my wireless card. This is a measure taken to minimize interference of radio traffic to and from the plane as well as between the cockpit and cabin crew. It's more or less a safety measure.

 

I seriously doubt having something that's bluetooth on is going to cause any interference... If they truely thought that cell phones or wireless would do anything, they wouldn't allow the stuff on the plane in the first place.

 

It uses radio waves, just on a higher frequency. Interference is unlikely, but as an airline company you wouldn't take that risk would you?

 

On an airplane all transmitting devices must be turned off. Let it be cellphones, wireless, bluetooth or something else.

Look at it this way: yes, it's unlikely to cause a catastrophic interference, but really, would you toy around with your life (and lives of 300 other people) over such a small inconvenience as not being able to use your wireless device for the length of the flight?

I think it's better to be safe than sorry. I hope you agree.

 

I agree that it is much better to be safe than sorry- However, from what I have read about such prohibitions, both on airlines and at hospitals with cell phones, none of the prohibitions are the result of any known interference- no one has done any studies on intereference in hospitals, not any that I am aware of on simulated airline environments- so the better safe than sorry is based on no evidence that I know of. Yet, until tests are done in a safe simulation- its the best policy to ban it.

 

A wireless card does not create interference. Some airlines, and certainly business aircraft-operators, offer in-flight wireless internet.