Jump to content
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
  • Current Donation Goals

Do Pilots Really Wear Pilot Watches?


chango

Recommended Posts

Seems like all the pilots I see on commercial flights wear digital watches.  Even when doing my side gig as a transport medic all the life flight pilots I come across wear g-shocks mostly--fixed wing and rotary.  Is it an accuracy thing?  Durability?  Fashion?  Only once have I seen a pilot actually wearing one of those Citizen chronos with hundreds of sliderule numbers on it. 

 

As an aside, one of the female flight attendants on my recent flight did have a nice stainless ladies datejust. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pilots used to need the ability to make calculations and then time their progress along a route. Now their avionics do it for them, and being in controlled airspace they're basically flying bus routes. VFR flight may be different but then, those pilots usually already know where they're going and how long it takes to get there. So long story short, the old analog sliderule chronos are basically man jewellery babe magnets now.<br /><br /><br />

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most wear watches that costs less than $200. Typical watches are timex and g shock.

Occasionally you'll see a breitling emergency or other lower price range of the breitling group watch. To see a non digital watch is rare and to see a watch worth more than $500 is very rare.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does not matter on the least. Pilots are generally cheap and do not care about wasting money on a watch. We are required to wear one, that's why most do.

The airplane has a clock right on the panel, usually synced by GPS and is digital with local, Zulu and the date.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The airplane has a clock right on the panel, usually synced by GPS and is digital with local, Zulu and the date.

Dingdingding!! Dah Winnah! :tu: it's in the avionics. ADS-B needs a good clock, and air traffic needs ADS-B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My buddy had a plane and anytime we flew anywhere (usually for a party or night on the town) we both wore our Citizen Skyhawk, him because it was his only watch, me because it made me feel cool :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im flying today and I'll be wearing a WM9 16610 to Chicago and back. No one knows it's a rep because not once have I even been asked. Only once has my watch even been mentioned and it went down like this....

Him- "Nice watch."

Me- "Thanks."

I sometimes wear a Laco Flieger or one of a few Citizens (I do own the blue angel one). I love their Eco Drive and the sky hawk has a quick set time zone option. I bought the sky hawk as a new pilot because I thought it was cool to own a "pilot watch" and thought the E6B was a necessity (never used it.)

Pilots are cheap but will spend money on a hobby, for 95%+ that is not watches. Some golf some have boats and some own Sunday cars but wear G shocks.

A guy I flew with was left a "nice watch" from a family friend who passed. His daughter said he wanted him to have it and it would be sent to the dealer for a solid service. He was wearing a timex iron man. Flew with him again and I saw the watch a mile away...it was a 1675 Pepsi dial in 99% condition fresh from the AD. He asked if it was a "good Rolex" or even worth anything because it was so old. I offered to take it off his hands for $1000 AND buy him a new timex of his choice. Sadly he knows me too well. I filled him in on what he owned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most all the commercial pilots I've ever known are too cheap to buy an expensive watch. That's why they always wear quartz. I do know one that wears a Submariner but I have no idea if it's a rep or not. I've always assumed gen but he's owned since he was my flight instructor many years ago.

 

And pilots no longer need pilot watches. Just like divers no longer need dive watches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

True. While we don't need a "pilot" watch, we are required by our company manuals to wear a watch.

For the above reason, I can write off a watch during tax season. My job requires it and they don't provide it or reimburse in any way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And pilots no longer need pilot watches. Just like divers no longer need dive watches.

True, and IMHACO, we're the worse for it. We have computers to do the calculations for us so arguably we're safer. Until the computer craps out. Then, if you don't know the math you're toast.

Lots of Boy Scout troops use GPS now for adventures and it's the same thing, their safety relies on batteries. Once you teach the use of maps and a compass and math, the boys are safer. Old school rules baby! :tu:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now I have started looking at Pilot's risk when I travel. The older guys have a fair number of Rolex Subs and the younger ones are waring random cheap ones. Guess Pilot pay isn't what it used to be. :)

I believe you are dead on. What with all the mergers and fleet cutbacks, pilots have been squeezed . I read a story a year or two back, about the crappy pay and terrible schedules of younger pilots working for some of the commuter airlines. Some guys were sleeping in their cars because they were assigned to flights that came and went far from their home. They couldn't afford a place to stay. I would hate to think that the guy flying the plane flew in late the night before and slept in his car overnight!!!

No wonder those guys/ gals can't afford a decent watch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up