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Pilot Watches / Aviation Watches

pi·lot
noun
A man or woman whom operates or is licensed to operate an aircraft.

There are many different terms for the Aviators that operate an aircraft.  In addition, there are many different terms for the Timepieces that the Pilots themselves use.

Let's talk about the men and women that fly aircraft.  They have been referred to by numerous names; ace, aerialist, aeronaut, airman, airplane pilot, aviator, bellwether, bird legs, birdman, bush pilot, captain, conductor, coxswain, dean, director, doyen, eagle, flier, fly-boy, flyer, guide, helmsman, jet jockey, jockey, lead, leader, navigator, scout, sky pilot, steersman, and wheelman (from here on, we will refer to them as Pilots).

No matter what time of day or night, pilots need  reliable crew members, aircraft, equipment and instruments.  They need to be prepared for any situation that can arise.  Forethought is an extremely valuable trait in a pilot. Situations can occur without warning and a pilot must be able to read his/her instruments and equipment clearly, concisely and at a moments glance.

One of these invaluable tools is the E6B Flight Computer.  The E6B is a circular slide rule used in aviation. They are mainly used in flight training, but many professional and airline pilots still carry and utilize their E6Bs. These circular slide rules are used during pre-flight planning, to calculate fuel consumption, wind correction, time en route, estimated time of arrival (E.T.A.) and ,during flight, can be used to calculate ground speed.  Popular among military pilots, the E6B can also calculate high-speed and low-speed wind correction and high-speed compressibility (determining their Mach speed).

Depending on the make and model, Aviator wrist Watches will calculate time, distance, speed and fuel equations. They can also calculate currency conversions, and mathematical equations. With some watches, you can even calculate conversions, such as ounces to grams, kilograms to pounds and miles to kilometers.  All of these features can be found on today's modern wrist watches.  Known as a  Flight Computer Wrist Watch, Aviator Wrist Watch, Pilot Wrist Watch or Military Wrist Watch, they all mean the same thing...  watches designed and crafted for Pilots.

Of all the features available on today's modern timepieces, one stands out as one of the most sought-after (especially for pilots)... luminescence.  A luminous  timepiece will "glow-in-the-dark".  After a charge, a luminous timepiece will emit a glow, wherever the luminous material has been placed.  This specific type of lighting has been in use for many years, even before Digital LED, and is still in demand today.  Throughout the years, there have been different methods used to create the night-visible timepiece.

Photoluminescence - The energy from a light source (natural or man-made) is absorbed into the photo luminescent paint for a significant period of time.  When the timepiece is placed in the dark, the photo luminescent paint gives off a lesser amount of light, than that absorbed, and for a lesser amount of time.  This decrease in longevity and frequency of light is called decay.

Radio luminescence - Radio luminescence is produced by nuclear radiation.  Alpha particles (gamma rays) and beta particles (x-rays) cause electrons to react in a radio luminescent material, such as zinc sulfide.  This material has been used in the timepiece industry from the early 1900's to the late 1990's.  With today's ever-present and heightened Homeland Security, watch makers are looking to alternatives to this radioactive material.

Tritium - Tritium is most often used on timepiece faces, dials and firearms.  It is a gas

LumiNova and LumiBrite - These are the "new kids on the block", variations of photoluminescence.

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