The new Bonded NAC motivational video.

[donpizmeov]

https://youtu.be/cf2oJjUoG0I

Actual footage of a motivational speech to a new NAC course at EK. Please note that the watch is for decorative purposes only.

[Airbubba]

Nice video, thanks for sharing it. :ok:

I think I've seen a real pilot wearing an IWC about once over the years. Just as it could be argued that we are not really pilots as in the old days, I would say that a watch with a variant of the common ETA Valjoux 7750 movement could not be called a classic mechanical chronograph. But, times change, right?

Looks like the hotel is the familiar Copley Plaza in BOS, I've had a layover or two there in years past. Never bought a watch though. ;)

[Capn Rex Havoc]

Good vid don, but that vid is only for the 777 NAC blokes.
EK are issuing this watch to all a380 pilots, and ex radial engine drivers, even first officers.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M7OoTpjtdak

:E

[Airbubba]

Another nicely done promotional video, thanks Rex. :ok: The Breitling Chronoliner movement is also based on the workhorse Valjoux 7750 caliber mentioned above.

Back in the day some airlines did issue nice watches to pilots, for example:

Several of the classic watch brands in the 1950's tied the marketing of their watches to aviation much like Breitling still does today.

Rene-Paul Jeanneret at Rolex is credited with coming up with the concept of the 'tool' watch for different activities although I would argue that sport watches, dress watches and military watches had been around long before that.

In 1954 Pan Am Captain Fred Libby and Jeanneret took a two-timezone Rolex called the Turn-O-Graph and modified it into a watch with an additional 24-hour hand for issue to Pan American flight crews. In 1955 Rolex offered the watch for sale to the public as the GMT-Master.

Now, this is no s**t. Or, should I say once upon a time... ;)

Rolex periodically delivered the issued watches in production batches to Pan Am's headquarters in the Chrysler Building. Inevitably perhaps, some seemed to end up on the wrists of the guys wearing suits rather than uniforms. CEO Juan Trippe noticed and made these folks give the watches back to be worn by the cockpit Sky-Gods. Like Fred Smith in the pre-union FedEx days, Trippe considered his pioneering pilots to be the stars of the company and the executives to be in a supporting role.

To soothe executive egos after the timepieces were confiscated, Trippe had Rolex produce just over a hundred of the new watches with the same movement, case and hands but with a distinctive white dial for issue to the management. These became known as the 'Albino Pan Am GMT-Master' and are obviously extremely rare.

I've seen a recent estimate of $300,000 for one of these pieces in good condition. :eek:

https://www.pprune.org/nordic-forum/593236-sas-watches-memorabilia.html#post9734526

[White Knight]

Did I hear someone say 'joystick' in that Breitling vid?:eek::}

[Old King Coal]

I've never understood the need by some to sport a massive 'pilot watch', i.e. one with dozens of dials and needles all over it, and some even with a PLB (https://office.amjwatches.co.uk/storage/images/inventory/48070/primary_image.jpg), ffs! In my experience they're nearly always worn by Walter Mitty types / blokes with ego and / or status 'issues'.

When at work in your modern Scroggs' Wonder-Jet, if you need to know the time, just look at the aviation approved chronometer above & in-front of your knee (and, whilst you're at it, try having a guess how much that aviation approved chronometer actually costs?) and / or, if not at work, simply refer to your mobile phone.

[SOPS]

Its funny...in my new life as a Train Driver.we are all issued with a $100 digital watch. Can be synced to the GPS clock on the train very easily..no hassle, no fuss, and it does what it says on the tin.

[clear to land]

OKC-some national regulators require a pilot to have an independent timepiece with a sweep second hand (at least that was the case when I learned!). Having said that I too am bemused by some of the 'instruments' worn on peoples wrists as I find non-aviation watches generally more aesthetic than those with the word 'aviation' attached, although I do like nice watches. :ok:

[The Outlaw]

I've never understood the need by some to sport a massive 'pilot watch', i.e. one with dozens of dials and needles all over it, and some even with a PLB (https://office.amjwatches.co.uk/storage/images/inventory/48070/primary_image.jpg), ffs! In my experience they're nearly always worn by Walter Mitty types / blokes with ego and / or status 'issues'.

When at work in your modern Scroggs' Wonder-Jet, if you need to know the time, just look at the aviation approved chronometer above & in-front of your knee (and, whilst you're at it, try having a guess how much that aviation approved chronometer actually costs?) and / or, if not at work, simply refer to your mobile phone.

Yep...its been a fact of aviation for 100 years...the size of a pilot's watch is inversely proportional to the size of his genitalia, something to do with compensation. The really "special" and delicate ego's would wear their "Ray Ban" cases on their belts...:hmm:

[donpizmeov]

Well this is a little bit awkward. After reading the ego fest on the JFK thread, I found the IWC ad. In a humorous way it had me thinking of Airbubba and his equally anonymous and vocal UStronaut mates being told that even though they wore a dapper uniform they were not really pilots while checking out of the hotel (wonder if they had the concierge floor?). Now it seems that Bubba is not only the font of all knowledge aeronautical, but also of everything mechanical. I fall on bended knee and admire the glow of your awesomeness Bubba.

[Airbubba]

Now it seems that Bubba is not only the font of all knowledge aeronautical, but also of everything mechanical. I fall on bended knee and admire the glow of your awesomeness Bubba.

Thanks for the compliments, I appreciate it. :ok:

Did you notice that the dismissive bellman in the video was American actor John Malkovich?

[halas]

Is it just me? Or does the skipper in the original video look like PL?

Ex Pilot recruitment captain on EK promotional material….fast track command, chauffeur car to work, 380 driver (not really)….

halas

[Xulu]

Erm. Is this a feature length advert for a pilot watch, that insults all modern day pilots? I'm a bit confused. To me it seems like they've alienated most of their customer base.

It's fine to have that opinion, but don't then try to sell me a watch.

[donpizmeov]

Works with recruiting at EK. Just large shiny watch instead of aeroplane.

[LivingINtheDream]

Guy turns up at reception in the morning with bloodshot eyes and complains about the noise levels and not being able to rest in the middle of the night. He says he couldn’t get a wink because there were pilots on the corridors chasing cabin crew all night. “How do you know they were pilots” asked the receptionist?”
“That’s easy” said the sleepy guy, “They all had small dix and big watches”.

[sealear]

Nothing wrong with watches per se. I have a standard non aviation watch, it's handy for that 5am arrival into dxb when I'm too tired and lazy to ad 4 to the gps clock time 😂