Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR - Watch Angels

Description

In partnership with Watch Angels, Alpina is proud to be unveiling a world first devoted to one of the most critical flight phases. For decades, pilots’ watches have paid tribute to the world of aviation without really providing any support for pilots’ operational decisions – but now the Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR changes all that.

The timepiece introduces a new, fully mechanical horological function designed with and for professional pilots, allowing them to instantly view headings to enter a holding pattern – a key phase in any (Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) approach in which accuracy, professionalism and discipline are all vital.

A fully-fledged aviation instrument

As well as introducing a never-before-seen function, the Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR brings together the three defining pillars of mechanical flight instruments:

• Action: a unique function enabling the wearer to instantly determine the correct heading on which to join a hold

• Measurement: an integrated chronograph with a 12-hour counter, crucial to monitor longer phases of flight

• Reference: a UTC hand, indispensable for any cross-border flight path.

Instantly readable and user-friendly

The timepiece’s bidirectional bezel allows the pilot to enter two pieces of data: their current heading and the heading for entering the hold. The watch instantly provides the following:

• the type of entry (direct, parallel or teardrop)

• the required headings

• left-hand or right-hand entry

An intuitive colour code ensures information can be read off instantly and unambiguously. This wealth of data makes the Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR one of the most complete pilot’s watches ever designed, and the unprecedented watchmaking involved makes it a rare timepiece, of which only three hundred will be produced.

An unprecedented feat of watchmaking

In the aviation world, there are two different types of flight. One is VFR (Visual Flight Rules), the type of flight practiced by almost all private pilots. VFR flight, possible when visibility is adequate, requires pilots to be able to fly their aircraft based on visual data with the aid of basic instruments (a radio, a chart and a compass).

The second type of flight is IFR, standing for Instrument Flight Rules. IFR takes over where VFR is no longer possible, for flight in poor weather and more generally, any more complex flight environment such as cross-border flights, approaches to major airports, flights carrying passengers, and so on. IFR flight is a major component of a professional pilot’s licence. Anybody may obtain this licence, but it involves several years of study, passing a large number of exams, and several hundred hours’ flight time. The new Startimer Pilot Chronograph Automatic IFR has been designed with this category of experienced pilots in mind.

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.