Throughout history we’ve had the likes of James Bond and the Mission
Impossible stars use their watches for purposes beyond just telling
time. They cut through steel with lasers and doubled-up as phones.
Breitling has gone a step further by creating their EMERGENCY watch
in response to a request from NATO. Breitling watches are used by
pilots and aircrews the world over. Their Emergency watch is a multi-functional
chronograph equipped with a micro-transmitter, which broadcasts an
international aviation distress frequency. What this means is that
if a plane crash-lands somewhere, in addition to the plane’s own distress
signal, you could use the Breitling Emergency signal that would allow
a rescue plane to home in on you. Like smoke signals, only it’s more
dependable.
 This
amazing piece of technology broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency
frequency. Unscrewing a protective cap located on the lower right
hand of the watch activates it. You then pull out a long wire antenna.
It then broadcasts for 48 hours with a range of 100 miles, assuming
the search aircraft is flying at 20,000 feet and depending on the
terrain, the position of the transmitter watch, the temperature and
humidity. What is striking is that perhaps 48 hours is a bit too short
a time period. However, you must realise this is only a watch. And
the battery that the watch runs on is different from the transmitter’s
battery. And if you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere I guess some
hope is better than no hope at all.
The Rescue Operation
- 1) First and foremost, once a plane has crashed, the airborne
beacon or a distress message or some other such warning will alert
the COSPAS-SARSAT; an international search and rescue system comprising
of a network of satellites and land stations.
- 2) After this system analyses the approximate position of the
crash, it is then that the Breitling EMERGENCY wrist instrument
comes in to play. As soon as its signal is activated it assists
rescue teams in close-range localisation. So it basically narrows
down the search area and time taken to find you, which could mean
the difference between life and death.
But wait a minute; I’ve been in a crash. I probably have lots
of broken bones and cuts. The chances of my watch surviving are
pretty darn slim aren’t they? This may be true. However, since the
watch is made of titanium it does have a much better chance of standing
up to a crash than your bones. And since the chronograph and transmitter
are independent, the fact that the watch has been visibly damaged
in a crash does not necessarily mean the transmitter is out of action.
Just in case, there’s an auxiliary antenna to boot. Gazing upon
the Breitling Emergency, one is immediately aware of its weight
and consequence. The titanium material it is made of endows it with
the qualities of being remarkably light, anti-magnetic, corrosion-resistant
and anti-allergenic (for those of you who get a nasty rash after
wearing a leather strap). Apart from that, you’ve got all the nifty
functions of a 12/14 hours combined digital and analogue display,
1/100th of a second chronograph, alarm, countdown, 2nd time zone,
multilingual calendar and battery end-of-life indicator. The sapphire
crystal, glare proofed on both sides with luminescent numerals and
hands, guarantee optimal read-off, whatever the light conditions
and angle of vision. Not only pilots, but also sailors and mountain
climbers use the watch. In fact, according to Retail Operations
Manager, Darshana Minawala, the watch recently played a part in
saving the life of a mountaineer stranded without food for two days
on an icy slope somewhere. “It is not just a watch, it is an instrument,”
she says with obvious pride. I was amazed to see her Emergency folder
and the kind of material that it contained. An Emergency Checklist,
a presentation on the correct way to sell, use and instruct customers
on the watch’s operation. After undergoing a two-day workshop she
is now an ‘Authorized Emergency Salesperson’. It’s this sort of
attention to detail, accuracy and perfection that sets Breitling
and this watch apart from the regular chronograph watches. I mean
how more professional can you get. So much so, that the US Military
trains with this watch. You can only use the Emergency transmitter
once. If it’s a genuine emergency then they replace it for free.
If you misuse it, you pay half the price of the watch as a fine
and they won’t replace it for you which would be a tragedy considering
the watch costs over Rs. 2 lakhs. According to Darshana, not only
pilots but also celebrities buy the watch for show and prestige.
But even they are fully instructed on how to responsibly use the
Emergency and are made to sign a Conditions of Sales document. With
great power comes great responsibility. The Breitling Emergency
is truly a watch that makes every second count.
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EMERGENCY
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