Flight Timer
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Lincolnshire
Flight Timer
Hi all, i am in need of a suitable flight timer to use for my PPL training. I have my QCC this week and so am in a bit of a hurry.
I was looking at the ASA flight timer 2 but to be honest, i dont think i can justify the £30-40 price tag for what is, essentially, a glorified egg timer.
SO, what are you guys using??
I was looking at the ASA flight timer 2 but to be honest, i dont think i can justify the £30-40 price tag for what is, essentially, a glorified egg timer.
SO, what are you guys using??
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Downwind
Transponder on our 152 has a simple timer; Start, Stop & Clear, this is just about all I need for Nav ex. Failing that, I have a timer on the iPhone, I have never used this in flight but suppose it would do the trick. Failing that, (must be a bad flight!) I have a watch; not as precise admittedly but should do the job also. Can't see how you would justify the need to purchase a timer for PPL training in my humble opinion. 
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 129
From: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Hi!
As Ryan5252 already said: There is a timer built into almost every piece of modern avionics (ADF, Transponder, GPS, many NAV/COM units, ...). Many aeroplanes have a panel or yoke mounted clock/stopwatch/timer. Then there's your mobile phone (not only the iPhone has a timer!), your watch, your pocket calculator.
But if you really feel that you need a timer, the cheapest 5€ kitchen timer will do the job as you say!
Good luck with your test!
max
SO, what are you guys using??
But if you really feel that you need a timer, the cheapest 5€ kitchen timer will do the job as you say!
Good luck with your test!
max
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
From: Amsterdam
I have the ASA flight timer you mentioned. It's got local time (both 12/24 hour) and UTC, six independent approach timers plus a separate stopwatch, a notepad, backlight, runs on a single AA battery. Everything you need.
But it's also big. No way you can easily mount this somewhere portable. Not on your wrist, not on the yoke/stick, not on a lanyard around your neck, not on your kneeboard. The only way it's really useable would be if you mount it permanently in your cockpit somewhere. Today, it mostly lives in my flightbag and I honestly don't know why I'm still carrying it around. I don't think I've ever used it in anger so far.
For the PPL exam, all you really need is a clock of some sort. For me, a simple analog watch did just fine but hey, go wild and get a digital watch if you think it'll make you a better pilot. But remember that the accuracy required for the PPL navex is only along the lines of +/- 5 minutes ETA. Any simple clock will do.
Only once you start doing the CPL and/or IR, the accuracy requirements go up, and you need something that you can start/stop. But even then an analog stopwatch will probably do just fine.
But it's also big. No way you can easily mount this somewhere portable. Not on your wrist, not on the yoke/stick, not on a lanyard around your neck, not on your kneeboard. The only way it's really useable would be if you mount it permanently in your cockpit somewhere. Today, it mostly lives in my flightbag and I honestly don't know why I'm still carrying it around. I don't think I've ever used it in anger so far.
For the PPL exam, all you really need is a clock of some sort. For me, a simple analog watch did just fine but hey, go wild and get a digital watch if you think it'll make you a better pilot. But remember that the accuracy required for the PPL navex is only along the lines of +/- 5 minutes ETA. Any simple clock will do.
Only once you start doing the CPL and/or IR, the accuracy requirements go up, and you need something that you can start/stop. But even then an analog stopwatch will probably do just fine.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
I used said cheap sports stopwatch for my PPL but, funnily enough, found it easier to just use my watch for the CPL.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 883
Likes: 34
From: Berkshire, UK
borrow your kitchen timer from home!
When you have used it in anger you will know EXACTLY what features you really want and then you can go around the cook shops till you find one you like at a price you are prepared to pay.
I have a cheap stopwatch velcro'd to my dash, impulse buy from Maplins because it is exactly the same shade of yellow as the aircraft is. It has an alarm which is not loud enough to hear in the cockpit but is useful during stopovers. I do tend to just glance at the time and remember it rather than set the stop watch for in flight navigation timings. Can't be bothered with pressing fiddly buttons and multi options. Look, note, remember, sorted.
When you have used it in anger you will know EXACTLY what features you really want and then you can go around the cook shops till you find one you like at a price you are prepared to pay.
I have a cheap stopwatch velcro'd to my dash, impulse buy from Maplins because it is exactly the same shade of yellow as the aircraft is. It has an alarm which is not loud enough to hear in the cockpit but is useful during stopovers. I do tend to just glance at the time and remember it rather than set the stop watch for in flight navigation timings. Can't be bothered with pressing fiddly buttons and multi options. Look, note, remember, sorted.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge, England, EU
Bog standard watch (with second hand once you've got the PPL and are doing IMCr stuff). Yes there's timers in the avionics but it's quicker and simpler just to glance at your wrist, surely?
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
Inexpensive end pilots watch with a stopwatch.
Worked for PPL, TPS, 1000ish hours, and CPL training.
To be honest, any half decent wristwatch with a stopwatch will be fine so long as you can read both at once. My personal foible is that I fit an "Animal" velcro watchstrap to my watch - which I use to strap it around the yoke (or something convenient in front of me if the aeroplane has a stick).
If on a budget, try Argos!
G
Worked for PPL, TPS, 1000ish hours, and CPL training.
To be honest, any half decent wristwatch with a stopwatch will be fine so long as you can read both at once. My personal foible is that I fit an "Animal" velcro watchstrap to my watch - which I use to strap it around the yoke (or something convenient in front of me if the aeroplane has a stick).
If on a budget, try Argos!
G
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Ipswich
Agree with the above. On a VFR flight you are working to minutes, not seconds. Your wristwatch is just fine. Cuts down on cockpit clutter and no risk of it ending up under the pedals.
Other tip is to tie your pen to your clipboard. Otherwise, it *will* end up on the floor.
Good luck with the QXC,
Carl
Other tip is to tie your pen to your clipboard. Otherwise, it *will* end up on the floor.
Good luck with the QXC,
Carl
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: An island somewhere
Paully617,
You should take the advice given above with a pinch of salt. For 'real' PPLs, nothing less than the new Martin Baker watch by Bremont will suffice, as promoted in the March edition of Pilot magazine. Okay it costs £2,895, but that's a small price to pay to look a proper ......... pilot.
You should take the advice given above with a pinch of salt. For 'real' PPLs, nothing less than the new Martin Baker watch by Bremont will suffice, as promoted in the March edition of Pilot magazine. Okay it costs £2,895, but that's a small price to pay to look a proper ......... pilot.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: London UK
The sports timers have one advantage over kitchen timers: they show hundredths of seconds, so you can see immediately if pressing the big START button worked, and get your eyes back out of the cockpit sooner.
Obviously, you will not actually need the hundredth of a second accuracy!
Try to get a flat screen: curved screens always manage to find some annoying sunlight to reflect back at you.
I didn't use a timer for my QXC, just a watch with big hour and minute numbers.
Good luck!
Obviously, you will not actually need the hundredth of a second accuracy!
Try to get a flat screen: curved screens always manage to find some annoying sunlight to reflect back at you.
I didn't use a timer for my QXC, just a watch with big hour and minute numbers.
Good luck!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
You should take the advice given above with a pinch of salt. For 'real' PPLs, nothing less than the new Martin Baker watch by Bremont will suffice, as promoted in the March edition of Pilot magazine. Okay it costs £2,895, but that's a small price to pay to look a proper ......... pilot