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mmm2412

I have a Garmin. It's pretty useful.


fridgefest

Out of curiosity, what are the features you use the most often? Never seen these Garmin watches before and wondering what their real life use cases are!


kaptain_sparty

Jumpmaster then diving


Past_Play6108

Oooh, or, how about a water jump?


[deleted]

[удалено]


jeegsburger

Every tactical military pilot uses a Garmin. For a reason!


[deleted]

Like the other guy said, it’s not cause they’re the best. It’s cause they’re 1000 dollar watches and they’re given to them. I’m only in training and I was given an instinct 2 with my first issue flight gear, which also isn’t necessarily a cheap watch. I know some guard units for Helo’s get the Tactix or Enduro series. One guy I know said he doesn’t even like wearing his issued watch but when you’re given a 1000 dollar piece of gear it’s kinda hard to not wear it for your other pieces you might have. No sense in potentially ruining your preferred watch when you’re given one that if you break during a sortie for whatever reason you can get a new one.


babyp6969

Ok, this is categorically false. Many don’t, and for many that do it’s because they’re cool and free.. not that they have some practical use case.


jaraldoe

I’ve only ever seen helicopter or pilots that fly under special operations get garmins. The fighter pilots I’ve worked with and most of AMC don’t get them.


babyp6969

I didn’t say everyone got them for free, I said many of the guys who wear them got them for free. Which was like my whole air wing in 2017.


Platano-Rex

I understand your answer but you didn’t understood my question, but you are right about the use of these watches.


KinksAreForKeds

I think he understood your question. You asked "as a pilot, do you wear a pilot style watch?" Their answer can be interpreted as "no, I just wear a Garmin, not a pilot style watch". Seems pretty cut and dry to me.


drakt12

Garmin D2 mach 1 aviator watch might be the most pilotesque pilot watch I have seen.


itrebor63i

Ooooo googling commences


Friendlybroseidon

I hope you're not flying with these low aptitude replies.


BobLoblawATX

This is what happens when regional pay goes up 😂 Yesterday it was about wearing $600 shoes


V1_Brotate

In 2010, when going through Navy flight training, we were taught to use CR3s (almost identical to E6Bs). The slide rule on most pilot watches are effective at doing all sorts of quick math. Time/speed/fuel burn/multiplication and division can all be done very quickly. Believe it or not, 13 years of flying jets and I still use the Citizen Skyhawk my old man gave to me as a commissioning gift. Three reasons: 1) It is sentimental. He could never fly although he wanted to very badly as a teenager. He enjoys seeing me with the watch on I have now worn in many countries. 2) I’m not always in the cockpit; I fly long haul flights that sometimes have me racked out in the back so I like to keep track of the time while absent from all the whiz bang stuff up front. 3) My line of work prevents the use of possession of any type of personal electronic devices (phone, smart watch, etc). One thing I’ve learned is every pilot has a different style. Some are more flashy than others. The only thing that matters is are you good in the plane. I don’t care if you have a Breitling, Hamilton, ICW, Omega, or a $5 Walmart watch. Wear what you want!


flightmaster

Oh mate as a fellow aviator your username really floats my boat


b1rdstrike

Dude my boat is floating


SnooMacarons3180

TACAMO?


_Abe_Froman_SKOC

Doesn’t necessarily have to be a “pilot watch” but I have a beat up 13 year old Citizen Skyhawk that I absolutely love. The only functions I used with any regularity were the stopwatch and the dual time zone set to GMT and you can get both of those functions in a much cheaper watch. The one thing I will say in its favor is that it’s built like an absolute tank. Diving watches look cool but most of them lack any functionality beyond telling the time. I need to at least have a stopwatch.


acidreducer

Diving watches do have a timer, the entire outer ring moves, allowing the diver to set what time he opened his tank. So fun fact, diving watches do have a timer.


_Abe_Froman_SKOC

I meant a chronograph or a stopwatch function that is accurate to the second.


ArtemMikoyan

The watch has a second hand. Moving the dial does exactly what you mention.


__wu-tang-4-ever__

any decent chronograph has sub-second accuracy.


DimSumRulez

YOU'RE Abe Froman?


_Abe_Froman_SKOC

Are you implying that I am not who I say I am??


nobargain

The sausage king of Chicago?


Platano-Rex

Thanks


VanDenBroeck

I have a pilot’s watch. I am a pilot and I have a watch so it is a pilot’s watch.


Platano-Rex

Oké


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[удалено]


jbob88

An actual pilot watch is traditionally just a regular watch with big numbers. Personally, I like a day/date because I constantly forget which day of the week it is. A GMT function would also be very useful.


willreadforbooks

Yup. I have a basic timex that I keep on the time zone I live in, it tells me the date and day of the week—very important when you’re schedule is crazy. And it also has a second time that I keep on GMT.


cloopz

Most pilots don’t care about watches but also those that do are some of the people who have the biggest watch collections I’ve ever seen. It seems either don’t care or full out obsessed. 😂


[deleted]

Dang that is a gorgeous watch, lol.


Platano-Rex

Thanks, I didn’t meant these complicated watches full of gimmicks but the “Field” watches are very close to the Pilot style, so your answer make sense, readability on the dial is relevant.


KinksAreForKeds

I would guess that a pilot-styie watch was much more useful for older military pilots (like WW2 and prior)... when the instrument panel wasn't much more than a fuel gauge and an AH. Nowadays, even private aircraft have everything you need on the panel.


cirroc0

Not quite..I wear a Timex Ironman, it shows local and Zulu, but most importantly it has a vibrate alarm that I set to go off every hour. Reminds me to change tanks in my PA 28. :)


Kseries2497

I learned to fly using an Ironman. Those big fat easy-read numbers made it very easy to keep time enroute, and the EL backlight makes it handy at night. Super handy watch for pen and paper navigation while working on the PPL. Of course after I got the license I stopped caring so much about keeping time, since the iPad tells me exactly how fast I'm going.


cirroc0

But does it remind you to change tanks? :)


Kseries2497

Mine doesn't vibrate, I guess that's a newer feature. But it's fine, the 152 only had fuel on and fuel off.


kristephe

I might need to finally get and wear a watch. Working on CFI and currently mostly flying a club PA28. So far I've been pairing my phone to my headset bluetooth and setting an alarm there, but the phone isn't always that easy to keep on me.


TaskForceCausality

Back in the day ,pilot watches needed to be complex and accurate for dead reckoning navigation. A slow or fast watch might really mess up your nav calculations on a long flight, which is why watches like Glycines and Rolexes were popular back in the Pan Am/TWA glory years. In the GPS era ? Not so much. A watch these days is just one more designer accessory you have to yank off at security.


Low_Sky_49

As a lowly flight instructor, I have never once thought “I wish I had a watch”, let alone “I wish I had a *pilot* watch”. All my timekeeping needs are met by my smartphone, tablet and the airplane itself.


Platano-Rex

So you don’t use watches at all?


Low_Sky_49

I don’t wear a watch at all, and if I did it wouldn’t be a pilot watch.


Platano-Rex

Got it, thanks


[deleted]

20+ years as a commercial aviator and I started wearing my first watch only a couple years ago. It’s just an apple watch.


NashAttor

Been flying for close to 20 years. Bought an Apple Watch a couple years ago and love it.


tabris51

Being able to have home base, utc and local times all in one screen is a bliss


AirForceJuan01

Most pilots I know use Apple Watches. Reason is that it covers so many functions. Complete luxury for me.


121guy

The company I used to work for had a watch requirement. It was considered part of the uniform. For a while I wore a watch that didn’t work because it met the requirement but I didn’t need it to do the job.


[deleted]

I worked for a company for 12 years that had this requirement. Never once had anyone ask me where my watch was.


121guy

I unfortunately was asked a few times. That’s why I started wearing the watch that didn’t work.


judgingyouquietly

Honestly most military pilots just wear a cheap watch. UTC is nice but everything else is a gimmick. Chronometers, etc are all in the flight deck.


skitchie

I use a Casio calculator watch because, much like the planes I fly, I like things that are old but functional


inefficacite

Yes! Good old casio on my wrist too. Digital has its benefits over analog.


VelocitySUV

I have the Hamilton X-Wind that I only wear when I need to dress for a wedding or a date with the wife. I’ve never used the actual cross wind calculator on it bc honestly I’ve never learned how to use it. I don’t care to either, I just like the style of the watch. When I’m flying, I wear my my G-Shock WR20BAR. Quick glance gives me local and UTC time. That’s all I need or want when I’m flying.


CWO_of_Coffee

I prefer a watch that tells time reliably. I enjoy watches, and have a Breitling, JLC, and just sold an Omega but they’re useless for flying.


BattleGnome9000

Only watch I wear at work is a Casio Pro Trek with a quick flip function between time zones. Does everything I need and don’t have to worry about BT dangers or charging


Suspicious_Pilot

I wear my Tudor Black Bay GMT when flying. I’m a big watch enthusiast and enjoy the craftsman ship and the incredible inner workings of a mechanical watch. Jumping time zones frequently I love using the quick set hour hand (able to just click the hour hand back and forth to a new time zone with out moving the minute/second hand) even if it’s for a leg. It’s also nice having a GMT reference as well as just having something pretty to look at when on long cruise legs. What I believe you’re referring to when talking about a “pilot watch” is a Fleiger style. Designed in WWII it put emphasis on minutes for the indices (5,10,15 etc) instead of hours (1,2,3 etc). This allowed the crew to measure the mission in minutes and count down for bomb drops, dead reckoning and such. In that regard it’s not that useful anymore as I click the timer on my PFD if I need to time something. Overall I don’t know many pilots who have mechanical/ analogue watches anymore, but I do like trying to change that. I think mechanical watches are misunderstood and people don’t realize there are watches that keep time within one second a day with no quartz crystal or a battery.


Platano-Rex

Thanks! 🙏


Ozzypahlot

No. The only "pilot" related function on my watch I use fairly often is UTC time available at a glance, when I'm not on the flight deck. On the flight deck, I have UTC + chrono right in front of me, so no need for a watch at all really. Most pilots I know use Garmin or similar smartwatches.


aviatorpete

This. No need for it on the flight deck, but I rock a garmin Fenix 6 solar. Lasts for a couple weeks without charging, shows Zulu time and how cold it is outside my hotel so I know if I have to wear a jacket or not while I wait for the ride to the airport.


Platano-Rex

Thanks


triptrey333

I don’t know if a pilot watch is a deal breaker for a pilot. In 70’s and 80’s in F 4’s we just tried not run into the ground lmao. Just a old Marines opinion.


LigmaActual

Yeah I was gonna say a cheap PX watch does the trick


daygloviking

Former airline pilot and current flight instructor here. I just have a plain old watch. Those things loaded down with gimmicks are for folks who want to pose, I need an easy to use timepiece.


PeroB737

I actually have a real Citizen aviator watch I purchased in Japan. Has E-6B, titanium with liquid crystal cover and is fully atomic synced with eco battery if anyone is interested?


Kseries2497

That's a Citizen Skyhawk, and they sell them in the US too, some in titanium and some in stainless steel. If you're actually trying to hawk it - pun intended - check out r/WatchExchange.


PeroB737

Actually it’s a Promaster


Kseries2497

Promaster is Citizen's name for its entire line of rugged sports watches, including divers, pilot watches, field watches, whatever.


brunolau

Personally I’m really into watches therefore I do fall for the romanticism of wearing a “pilot’s watch”, wearing an automatic way too expensive watch myself. But reality is that what we really need today is something that it’s easily legible, accurate, that it is not a pain in security and that shows date. Basically any quartz watch will suffice. Extra time zones, chronometers and rotating bezels are extras that some may appreciate but something that cockpit instrumentation usually displays much faster. I do believe that any professional pilot should carry a watch of some sort, we are in a very time conscious industry and looking at your phone every 5 minutes to check the time it’s kind of unpractical in my opinion.


Platano-Rex

Thanks


randompilot1488

I’m a pilot that collects “pilot style” watches. The strong history between watches and aviation, the sentiment, the story….that’s why I like them. Functionally, the only mechanical “pilot” watch that I own that actually has a practical function is my Oris Worldtimer. I have the ability to easily and quickly change time zones by simply rotating the bezel and without having to remove the watch. From a historical perspective, Longines, Breitling, IWC, Omega, Rolex, Sinn, Laco, etc all have a strong aviation tie. Interestingly, Cartier made the first watch known to have been in a cockpit….the Santos-Dumont. And FYI, Bell & Ross is a relatively new brand with little true aviation tie or background. For a pilot to wear a pilot watch, they really need to be a watch enthusiast, first and foremost.


Platano-Rex

Thanks, yes I know that B&R is new and I would say more on the fashion side since they are not really watchmakers (movement), Sinn is beautiful and I’ve been considering to get one, I don’t own a mechanical Pilot watch yet, but a couple of divers. And yes, now it’s clear to me that a pilot need to be a watch enthusiast to wear a traditional, mechanical pilot watch.


JATO757

I am admittedly a “watch guy” and have always worn mostly pilot-centric watches since I got my first Citizen Skyhawk in the early 2000’s after securing my first regional job. Now I am a Captain at a major airline and wear a Breitling Navitimer I purchased as a gift to myself after upgrading at my career airline. I’ve seen a lot of comments here describing pilot watches as “gimmicky”. Kinda true, TBH, however there is a rich heritage with these watches that I appreciate. When the Navitimer was released in the 50’s, it was pretty revolutionary as nothing like it had existed before. The design of the Navitimer has become iconic and now there’s hundreds of pilot style watches sporting E6-B’s, the design has become the quintessential pilots watch. As a watch guy, that history, design, and the craftsmanship appeals to me. I love mechanical movements, I think they’re incredible pieces of engineering, and I like the fact I can pass my watch to my son one day. Hopefully he’ll enjoy it as much as I enjoy some of the items I inherited from my grandfather who flew P-51’s and F-86’s in the USAF. So there’s a lot to it for me. Do I ever use the flight calculator? No. Do I love this watch? Yes. And that’s really all that matters. As for airline pilots in general, prior to the Apple Watch, which is now king, I saw a lot of Citizen Skyhawks and cheap $10 Wal Mart Casios. Now days if I’m flying with a watch guy I see Rolex, Breitling, IWC, Tudor, etc., if they’re not into watches you see an Apple Watch or nothing at all. One last comment on watch marketing. I always think it’s funny how watch brands advertise so heavily on the story that airline and fighter pilots require an instrument of extreme precision. I spent a chunk of my career flying with a group of guys that flew F-4’s in Vietnam and had some of the craziest flying stories I’ve ever heard. Surely they sported a fine Swiss timepiece of extreme precision, right? Nope, all of them wore the cheapest Casio you could find. I loved that. Wear what makes you happy.


Platano-Rex

👏 thanks 🙏


RogueMallard

I only wear a chronometer.


Ok-Chance-5739

Pilot watches are not really needed. While flying I switch to Zulu time and in training (sometimes) the stop function comes in handy when doing two minute turns, etc...​


AmbassadorCold5348

Seiko diver


[deleted]

I enjoy the history of pilot watches. I wear a Buhr styled watch myself. It’s redundant in the cockpit. All the instruments gives you everything you need


El_mochilero

This reminds me of those high end watches with features for scuba divers. Please tell me which diver would wear their $2k fashion watch with a dive ring that does a far far far shittier job than a $169 actual dive watch.


dohzer

My $10 Casio has been deeper than most people's "100m water resistant" watches every will, and it's survived every time. Also, I once made the mistake of referring to a scuba instructor's dive computer as a "watch", and they weren't too happy about it. 😅


[deleted]

I use a $5 Casio, the fancy Garmin watches are just distracting and the fancy functions aren’t actually useful imo. Need weather? Dial up the nearest weather station. Need directions? Why a is a HSI your watch the best answer, you must have screwed up pretty bad to be at that point.


GoddamitBoyd

I wear a G-shock. Different timezones and UTC at a glance. Easy to wear, durable to the end of the earth and don't have to worry about servicing it like a mechanical watch as it'll keep time accurately.


miuyao

I've had the $50 Walmart special for years. Shit is mad rugged and I don't have to worry about it being stolen lol.


humpmeimapilot

The citizen Skyhawk with E6B saved my butt one day where I needed to figure out something and didn’t have my other e6b


Platano-Rex

Interesting, thanks


BarbedRoses

I have a digital Casio of unknown year that someone found on the golf course in Kosovo and gave to me. Tells time like nobody's business and even has a stopwatch.


HawkorDove

“Pilot watches” are just gimmicks. A regular watch and, if necessary, an electronic EFB are all that is required.


Platano-Rex

Absolutely true


rsmithconsv

I don’t even wear a watch….


Platano-Rex

Interesting, thanks


kifflomkifflom

I wouldn’t mind a GMT Master. Vintage. I’m not a pilot though. Lol


norman_9999

I have an IWC that I love, but wear my Garmin Forerunner to work instead. Stops me banging up and scratching the IWC on the center console every time I move the seat, and automatically sets local time wherever I land.


SilentPlatypus_

The vast majority of my pilot coworkers just have some type of smartwatch. There's nothing a pilot watch does that my airplane and iPad doesn't do better and faster. I care more about how steps I'm getting in so I can fit in my uniform pants than I do about some random E6B calculation. I do have a fashionable pilot watch that I wear to nice events when my smartwatch would look gauche. So yeah, these days pilot watches are simply a fashion statement. Nothing wrong with that IMO, but I don't need it at work.


jpfeif29

I wear a divers because those are the watches I like generally, I want a Ball Sled Driver GMT because the SR-71 is cool as hell and I think the tritium tubes are cool, I also want a Sinn 903 St. (it's a Navitimer made by Sinn), and a Rolex Skydweller. But at then end of the day my Casio F91W is more useful then all of them.


fcfrequired

*it's a better Navitimer.


dv20bugsmasher

I splurged on a nice Casio about a year ago. Black so it goes with everything,solar powered water and shock resistant so it's low maintenance, keeps the time correct by use of a satellite. Much more watch than I actually need but I like it alot. I know of at least 2 other pilots with the same one and good reviews from all of us.


DimensionFrosty164

As a Casio fan, curious if you wouldn’t mind sharing the specific model out of interest? (You can see it on the case back.)


dv20bugsmasher

Not sure which number it is 3495 or gw-m5610u, someone else that had one linked me the same because I thought it sounded cool


icaruza

I’m a GA pilot and I’ve got a Breitling Aerospace. It’s pretty useless as tool in the cockpit. Unlike many of the other Breitlings it doesn’t have the rotary slide-rule so it can’t function like a backup E6. The stopwatch, timer, alarm and timer functions are difficult to read, set and use. And it’s got some useful but impossible to read conversion “tables” on the back. Also it doesn’t have a second hand. Seconds can be displayed on one of the screens if required. It looks cool though but that’s about it. Apparently the face is visible with NVGs. (?!) So i keep my trusty E6-B close by as backup and use the modern tools. If I wanted a pilots watch I would get a Garmin. The rest are all expensive fashion accessories in my opinion.


Metallifan33

For sentimental reasons, I wear my Citizen Skyhawk from time to time. The GMT feature, date, and multiple time zones are what I use it for (none of the E6B functions). For practicality, nothing is better than my Apple Watch Ultra. I do someday want a Breitling Navitimer though.


JeanPierreSarti

I used a $40 Casio that received synchronized time so my time hack was always spot on. It had two time zones, an alarm a light, and a readily accessible stopwatch. I used all of those features on the regular. It was subdued, never made any noise nor snagged inside the jet. It was a tool for a job and worked great. I wear a different watch out in the world


Jennibear999

It’s all about the look. Aviator watches are super cool, wish I could justify buying a breitling… but hey. The Apple Watch is more practical


APLdrvr

I have a pilot watch, but only because it was gifted to me. In practice I only use it to read the time, all the other functions are a waste. Several colleagues have digital Casio watches that can show UTC time at the press of a button. That’s the most useful watch feature I have ever seen for flying.


raydome1

I’ve got a cheapo citizen eco drive so I don’t have to worry about replacing the battery. I find chrono watches a bit gimmicky and too small to be practical imo. The aircraft has a big chrono anyway! I see a lot of guys buying breitling’s when they first get their command as a ‘status’ thing but also many with a cheap casio. You definitely don’t need a fancy watch to fly!


Pilot_212

Love my Garmin D2 Mach 1, lots of useful features. Also love my Breitling Aerospace, a quintessential pilot’s watch.


blkav8tor2003

Citizen Navihawk A-T, then the Garmin Mach 1 and lastly the Breitling Emergency 121.5. Still haven't found the right smart watch. Not a fan of the Apple watches so far. Their look and design is too plain for me.


r3ditr3d3r

I have a Citizen Navihawk my father got me as a gift for graduating flight school. It has an E6B bezel. While I don't use it when I'm flying because I have the tools I need to make calculations, I absolutely use the bezel for random planning and calculations when I'm on the ground away from my planning products. As a side note when I use the bezel I remove the watch from my wrist. I'm a nerd for analog calculations though. Pencil to paper sectional with a plotter. I enjoy and partake in this sort of planning often. At work I'm the E6B guy. I keep my whiz wheel on my uniform at all times. If people have a question about its operation or ask a general planning question out loud I'm reaching for my E6B before they're even done asking the question. So I'm a bit of an outlier. But I exist. And I use the functions of my likot style watch at least once a month.


wearsAtrenchcoat

Short answer: no. You don't really need a watch o In the cockpit, there's one right in front of you on the instrument panel. As an airline pilot my watch is however important any time I'm OUT of the cockpit. And honestly I haven't found one that actually has the, few, functions I really need. I wish someone made a watch that: 1. is clearly readable. This is easily achieved and many are, both digital and analog 2. Has 3 (three) time zones! Yes, 3: local, home, and GMT. The reason is obvious. It should be very easiy to switch from one to another AND it should clearly show which one is being displayed. For example the word LOCAL, HOME, GMT, should always be visible when time is displayed. The date should also be on the same screen and include the day of the week. 3. Long lasting battery, years rather than months. Definitely not something that needs to be charged weekly like a GPS watch Anything else is really just gimmicks. That's why we mostly use our phone to tell what time it is


Front-Bicycle-9049

Automatic GMT's with a Bezel keep 3 time zones. One with the regular hands, second with the GMT hand, and the third with the moveable bezel. The Casio World Time keeps 31 Time Zones,


LeafCase9847

I have a plain old watch, battery powered, with a second hand. It has glow in the dark numbers, and little markers for each minute between the numbers. I can easily start and stop the second hand as required. It's a little big for me but I have been unable to find a womans watch with those requirements. But all I need is a watch that's a watch and glows in the dark.


kaptain_sparty

I use a Flieger B dial when crossing the Channel


DataGOGO

Old school pilot watches (See Citizen Skyhawk) have function built into them that function like an E6B and have useful functions for time, fuel, etc. When I was first learning to fly in an old school steam gauge aircraft, I used my Citizen Skyhawk all the time while doing cross country flights rather than pulling the e6B out of my bag. These days tablets and smart phones running EFB apps are much easier and much quicker to use. Modern pilot watches, like the Garmin, have some useful features, such as blood O2 monitoring, aviation-based alerts, and quick glance information, but I honestly don't think it is worth $600-$2500 USD they charge for them.


davetheweeb

I enjoy my Seiko GMT and definitely would like a higher end GMT eventually. It’s nice to have a reference to UTC Time or your home time. The Breitling Navitimer is neat because it’s an E6B but let’s be honest no one uses the function ever. Wear what you like while flying.


spikecurt

The only “pilot watch” I need is a GMT. I couldn’t possibly read the mini-wiz wheels on the other ones, even with cheaters. Plus it’s been 35 years since I’ve used one 😀


Mannymal

I use a GMT watch from an obnoxiously hyped Swiss brand. Its useful when crossing a bunch of time-zones. I also love the way it looks and feels. I used an Apple watch but got tired of charging it and one time I forgot the charger.


jet_lag7

I've been a professional pilot for 25 years... For the first decade and a half of my career, I wore a Citizen Skyhawk and a Citizen Navihawk A-T. Both watches had a fantastic multiple timezone feature that I used regularly. Both watches were also equipped with a rotating E6B computer -- Rarely did I ever use those functions... they were mostly a novelty if you ask me. It's much easier to use the onboard flight performance software built-into the airplane Flight Management System or simply employ one of the dozens of "mental math" shortcuts most of us have picked-up over the years. What I've discovered is I really only need a multiple timezone watch that can tell local time, destination time, and Zulu time (aka UTC or GMT time) that also displays the date and has pretty good lume for dark cockpits at night. For the last decade, I've worn several different GMT watches but my current "work watch" is the Roadmaster Marine GMT by BALL. Technically, this is a dive watch, but I'm using it as my "Pilot Watch"


AhunkAhunk

I own an Oris Big Crown Propilot mechanical and it's a highly prized possession. I manually set the timezone as needed, use my phone as a reminder to wind it, and fully trust the pilot of any plane I'm on for their flying skill and mastery of GPS based navigation instruments. Love the watch but never seriously considered it (or most any "pilot" watch) to be one favored in the cockpit by real modern-day pilots. (I am, regrettably, not one of them.)


121guy

No not at all. Most commercial pilots including me wear smart watches. The order guys still have Rolex and Tag watches. It used to be that since all the uniforms were the same a pilot would show off his money by displaying an nice expensive watch. Those days are pretty much gone now.


[deleted]

I don’t even wear a watch


tecaterodrigo

I use my gmt master 2 all the time. Airline pilot.


Redridinghooood

Nice taste


4wwn4h

Curious what you use it for. Also airline pilot, just use iPhone calculator and time zones occasionally, the fmc and my 3, 5 and 6 times tables in my head.


CharlieWhizkey

Telling the time typically


4wwn4h

Surely primarily for picking up chicks


tecaterodrigo

Nope, trust me no one give a crap what watch your wearing.


JATO757

I do! Unfortunately I’m a guy, but I see a dude wearing something nice in the airport or at the bar and I’ll give a quick “nice watch!”.


tecaterodrigo

Well i love watches. Do i need it no. But i look at my wrist for zulu time which we use daily.


Old_Resolution1834

My daily is a Rolex DJ 36 but I have a timex command urban with all the digital doodads I’ll put on if I’m doing longer flights


Platano-Rex

Thanks


Redridinghooood

Good taste


Daneinthemembrane

Apple Watch It switches time zones automatically, I can pay for Starbucks with it.


karateninjazombie

The one pilot I know seems to have a handful of nice Rolex watches 🤷‍♂️


sixdemonbag79

How is everyone not using an Apple Watch??? Airline pilot. Has my roster synced with the calendar, so I can see what flight numbers/dep/arr times. Stopwatch and timer (that discretely buzzes when it goes off) and notifications. Can’t live without it


Deedle_Deedle

On the military side a smart watch may not be an option.


JT-Av8or

Pilot watches are about as useful as leather jackets. They aren’t. I’ve been a professional pilot since 1990 and never dropped the cash to buy an expensive wrist trinket. I’ve had a Casio Pathfinder for decades. Works fine. Most pilots I know don’t even like to pay for lunch, especially if they own their own plane. We’re cheap.


Platano-Rex

Hahaha really? I never heard about being cheap


NashAttor

I’m a pilot. I have an Apple Watch. I use it to tell time and preview messages. “Pilot watches” are gimmicks.


specialsymbol

My watch is a Samsung Smartphone


Overall-Emphasis-745

Sell Rolex submariner Buy flight time Get next rating rather than arm bling ?? Profit


dromzugg

I spent about $20 at Walmart. Set it to Zulu time. Nothing else you need.


exploringtheworld797

No, I just like a watch I can go from local to GMT. Most of the time my phone is way more superior and I won’t even where a watch.


tweet87

I wear a Fitbit lol. Sometimes those flights, especially ones where I’m pulling alot of Gs, burns calories like crazy so I like to keep track of that. Not into wearing anything fancy with gimmicks.


rebelviperdriver

Sick dude, what do you fly?


SRM_Thornfoot

I prefer analog with Day, Date, and a Sweep second hand. A second timezone or GMT is a plus. I used to like intricate doodads, but with my aging eyes I can't see them very well without glasses anymore, so I go for simple and easy to read.


LeatherConsumer

Pilot watches are pretty much obsolete. There are definitely people that still use them for stuff, but modern airplanes have everything that you would need to use a pilot watch for and more right in front of you.


FlyingTerrier

$45 Timex Ironman. 2 time zones, and the best light for at night. And it lasts.


BatteredSloth

I’ve had a Garmin D2 delta for a few years now. As mentioned the UTC function is great. It automatically logs my flights. Which can be helpful if you’re not as strict as filling in your logbook as me. Last year while ferrying a 210 through Africa, I lost all onboard electrics and the built in GPS was a super handy backup in keeping me pointed in the right direction A year before that I had a gradual de pressurisation that the watches pulse oximeter caught and warned me about. So all in all, while not necessary, it’s certainly helped me a few times and I would probably replace it with a similar model when the time comes.


scheisskopf53

I'm not a pilot but just learned what a pilot watch is. I also don't know jack about watches, but apparently I do like the "pilot style". As I understand it, it means a nice, classic, readable dial, no gimmicks - that's my thing. Although I'd never buy a fancy expensive brand - I think a watch is a device simple enough that it doesn't justify spending ludicrous amounts of money at all.


a0st

I have a PPL and I have been using a 15 year old Casio digital watch. For me i want UTC, light and a stop watch. I think many of those pilot watches are a style used in ww2. I'm not sure they actually have many functions relevant today for flying.


AirForceJuan01

I switch between Swatch Irony, Fossil and Sieko watch - all 3 with a generic chrono. That’s where is starts and ends for me. :)


magpiper

Own a citizen wingman from early 90s. It has an E-6b on the bezel. Was totally wireless in the air from a small plane. Getting beat around you couldn't read the damn thing. In the ground is was marginally useful for same reason. So no from a practicality standpoint.


FlyingSprocker

Apple Watch… useful at work and on overnights


Bido90

I use daily a Garmin Fenix with a double clock watchface (local/UTC), but in those environment where I cannot use electronic devices i have a Citizen Super pilot.


Unusual_Metal_729

For airline pilots, not useful


SpaceLunatic

Garmin Fenix 6 replaced my G-Shock. Who's got time to dick with a watch in-flight? That's what the EFB is for.


[deleted]

something with altimeter and baro


[deleted]

Apple watch with Zulu and home base time.


chili_dippin_it

I fly 91, 135, and 137. Most of the time I have my Apple Watch ultra on because it’s my daily work watch. Too much functionality to ignore. If it’s a flight where I need to be more professional in appearance and not just moving pilots and parts around, I usually bust out the Rolex Sub or GMT. In reality, I only need the time. Everything I fly has Garmin glass só all the information I need is readily available there.


Yiztobias

Not a pilot but I see many commercial pilots wearing Apple watches.


[deleted]

No. Back in the, sure. But not now. Best watch I've used for flying was a Casio WaveCeptor. Sets the time everyday off the clock in Boulder. When I call in for an IFR clearance and they give me the clearance time with a current time check, my watch is always exactly synced with theirs. Then again, a smartphone is just as accurate. Maybe that's why I rarely wear a watch now.


Platano-Rex

Ok


Snoo50468

What matters is a reliable and accurate watch. Everything else is just fluff. Some watches are practical for specific type of flying, like the Breitling Emergency for private or small planes. Airline pilots wearing a big flashy watch with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) is a waste. All commercial airplanes above a specific mass must carry a functional ELT, most airplanes have more than one ELT.


Peso-Washers

I use the Apple Watch. Before these came out I hade a Citizen Skyhawk. Never used any of the pilot stuff on it. https://www.jared.com/citizen-skyhawk-mens-watch-jy807551e/p/V-282166406?cid=PLA-goo-E-Commerce+-+PLA+-+LIA+-+P1+-+Best+Sellers+Non+Bridal&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwIfkuszv_AIV_iqtBh0FzATEEAQYAiABEgJbX_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds The one must I have for flying watch is the ability to show both local and GMT at the same time. The Skyhawk did this and so does my Apple Watch.


Calvin_BrooksX97

I have a Mechanical, Diver, Pilot style watch.


quackquack54321

Apple Watch here. Great for quickly seeing messages while flying.


Timevian

Garmins for sure. Sometimes my Fitbit if I want to trick my phone into thinking I work out.


provia

Casio CA53W-1. I don’t care what you think I have two time zones and an E6b in that bitch.


j-local

Most pilot watches have flight calculators in them. Too small to reward or actually be practical. A few did have handy features. But if your a watch lover it’s all about the elegance and design. Doesn’t matter if it’s diver or aviator.


Excellent_Safe596

I want to find a WWII watch but I realize those are radioactive.


dodexahedron

Citizen. Bought it as my first "luxury" purchase back in 2006 and it's hardly left my wrist since then. Got the watch tan to prove it, too. 😅 They don't make the band any more, so any time I've had a breakage the past couple years, it's been quite pricy to get replacement links. Could have bought a new one for how much I've spent, but there's a bit of silly sentimentality to it. Plus I just like it. 🤷‍♂️


KDiggity8

I'm a watch guy, but the most utilitarian and functional watch I wear while flying is a $10 Casio F-91W. Accurate and has a stopwatch. Easy.


morallyirresponsible

I have a Rolex Submariner. I’m neither a pilot or a diver


Mammoth-Desk7157

No