Does the Pilot Watch Still Have a Role in the Cockpit?

AVI-8 Hawker Hunter timepiece makes a case for old-school instrumentation.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, March 17, 2023 at 04:33 PM ET

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The AVI-8 Hawker Hunter pilot watch can be a helpful cockpit companion. [Credit: Jonathan Welsh]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot watches remain relevant in modern aviation, though their primary role has shifted from essential navigation tools to offering convenience, quick time checks, and serving as a backup for timing maneuvers.
Beyond practical utility, a significant aspect of their current appeal is subjective and nostalgic, contributing to the enjoyment of flying and complementing the aesthetic of vintage aircraft.
Modern pilot watches can still encourage pilots to practice traditional navigation and pilotage skills, while also providing useful features like dual time zones (e.g., Zulu time).

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A friend recently asked if pilot watches are still “a thing,” given the many devices, both portable and panel-mounted, that are available for telling time in flight. I told him they certainly are, but for different reasons today than when Charles Lindbergh and Wiley Post were crossing oceans.

In fact, I have spent the last several weeks flying with a new pilot watch, the AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Atlas Dual Time Chronograph, which has taken the place of a sports watch that had become my default flying timepiece.