Time can be fatal for a pilot as the aircraft runs out of fuel before landing because the elapsed time was longer than the amount of time the fuel was available. The pilot needs a good watch, preferrably a chronograph which can keep track of elapsed time. A three hour flight with two hour 55 minutes of fuel is an example of miscalculating the time available to fly.
Time is used to calculate distance traveled and distance to go. Speed times time gives distance. Four hours at 500 miles and hour is two thousand hours. If the distance is greater the pilot has a problem.
An aircraft can be flying at two hundred miles an hour into a fifty mile an hour wind. The distance traveled will not be two hundred miles for each hour but only 150 miles. To travel two hundred miles at 150 miles an hour will take 20 more minutes than flying at 200 MPH. One hours worth of fuel won’t be enough. The pilot of an aircraft with multiple fuel tanks needs to know how long each tankful of fuel will last. Gallons needed can be used first from one tank then from the next tank then back to the first tank until the flight is over. A good watch is essential to keep track of the time flown on each tank.
An instrument approach requires a stopwatch to record the time from the final approach point to when the runway is seen. Typically it is in minutes and seconds. The pilot needs to be very aware of obstacles because the flight path must be flown very precisely and if the runway is not in sight at the end of the time on the final approach path the pilot must get back up higher and try again. An accurate chronograph is needed for instrument flying and especially for the final approach. Seconds can mean the difference between a safe landing and a crash. Pilots rely on having several chronographs in the cockpit. One on the instrument panel, another mounted on the control handle and one on their wrist. Three chronographs is not a luxury. Not having one is dangerous.
So when you look at watches for pilots, don’t waste your time unless it’s a chronograph. Your can get one for the wrist and another for the control wheel. You can even get another for the pocket but make sure it’s a recording chronograph. Anything else or anything less won’t be any help. You can spend a load of money for a good watch for a pilot. It won’t be wasted. You can also get some great chronographs for very little money. I just picked up a couple of watches for about $30 each and they keep great time and I also own some very, very expensive chronographs. Each one is appreciated. All of them are useful and as an added bonus they look great. OK. I’m excessive when it comes to watches and when I’m in the air looking at them and using them are among the best parts of the flight.
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