Breitling Emergency 43mm Chronograph with Distress Transmitter

by Rick Reed (RSS feed)
Aug 9th 2005 at 2:02PM

The Emergency is an instrument watch with built-in microtransmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency. Following a crash or a forced landing, the Emergency will broadcast a signal on which rescuers can home in. The Emergency's transmitter is activated by unscrewing a protective cap and pulling the antenna out fully, it will then broadcast for 48 hours. The transmitter's signal has a range of about 100 miles. This seems like a great idea but I wonder if any pilots actually use this watch.

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Shelton Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

Yes, pilot's do use this watch. I am one. A good pilot will never have to the peticular feature which you mention but the digital display can be set to show zulu time which is often read in military time and in individual digits. It's tough to convert that much info in your head quickly and while flying so reading it digitally is nice. Of course, many aviation watches can do this but if you can fly your own aircraft, you may as well have the coolest damn aviator's watch around.

Rick Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

This is an obsolete SAR (search and rescue) frequency. If you really want to be found, you need an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) which transmits your GPS position up to a satelite. I think this is a stunt "benefit", not really useful (at least when you really want it - after a crash.)

I find it hard to see how this would actually be useful - if you are in remote or rugged areas, you are out of range, and if you are in populated areas, it is not a secret a plane came down.

m Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

I do not agree that this is a obsolete SAR freq! Where as the 406mhz EPIRB is a better tool and obviously has a better range in that it goes to the SARSAT, you need to keep the following in mind. Commercial aircraft still monitor the 121.5 frequency. The rescue control center will require two passes from the SARSAT on a 406 EPRIRB hit prior to sending any SAR assets to the device location, (that might be 90 mins to initial notification of the operational SAR asset).

Granted this might have changed in the six years it has been since getting out of the Coast Guard. But I can tell you that the 121.5 ELT has saved a number (and probably continues to do so) of lives and the fact remains that many times initial notification was made from passing aircraft that recieved the 121.5 signal.

I am of the opinion and concur that the likelyhood of using this device is limited, but if you have the financial means it makes sense to have all the available tools at your disposal for a potential survival situation, to include EPIRB and ELT, flares and signal mirrors, strobes and matches and fresh socks....food and water.

lai Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

would this be useful in a populated area if you were kidnapped and have the chance to pull the antenna out?

XP Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

This watch has been out for a few years now. They also make one without the digital display called the emergency mission.
As for it's use, last year two Argentinian 'copter pilots went down off the coast and were saved as a result of using the transmitter.
The survival radio that my aircrew carries during flight transmits on three seperate freqs, one being the 121.5mhz.

If you want a similarly styled watch, with all of the digital features (zulu time, second time zone, chrono, etc) Check out the Breitling B-1.

lai Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

does anyone know where to buy lady's emergency mission watch in taiwan or hong kong?

Colin M. Jones Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

I was at dinner the other night and met a lady who happen to have on the Emergency Mission. She told me that if she were drunk one night and decided to pull it, it would cost her a 150,000.00 dollar fine by the FAA if it was not a real emergency. Of course I told the story to my friend the next day and he totally called B.S. on me. Does anyone know what would happen if you get drunk one night and pull it; what would happen?

Joseph Morin Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

Yes, she exagerated by one too many zeroes. The fine for pulling it out with no emergency is $15,000.00.

Jacques Pontbriand Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

I bought a new Breitling Emergency watch a year and all is working fine... I love the watch for it's yellow dial I can see very well the time. I wrote to the Canadian Brietling Service dept and they said that they could not change the batteries in this model, it had to go to Brietling USA . My biggest shock was to learn that this would cost me $605 CD. I sent off an email to Breitling USA and they did not want to quote me a price they said they needed the watch to assess the repairs. I told them that it did not need any repairs since it is new and working. They replied again by saying no ball park figure on replacing the batteries. Have anyone had there batteries replace and for what price?

Alan Kang Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

I brought my Breitling Emergency to a Breitling authorized dealer at Fairview Mall (Toronto) and they informed me that they would have to send the watch to Switzerland for battery replacement and that will cost me > C$200

Jacques Pontbriand Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

Thanks Allan that makes more sense! I kept my email just in case someone would question me about this info. It came from D T at
Breitling After-Sales Service, Canada.

Sam Dec 18th 2005 5:46PM

The Breitling Emergency is the watch of choice of the world's special forces. However, the frequency used for transmission is being phased out and as of 1st February 2009 will no longer be monitored by emergency satellites, only by ground stations with limited coverage. see http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/elt.html
To spend this much money on a watch whose main raison d'etre ceases in three years must be regarded as lunacy - ....... I still want one.....

Salar Dec 28th 2005 12:58AM

I am thinking of getting the Breitling Emergency but I am concerned about the transmission becoming obsolete. What other options do we have and is there a watch that allows emergency satellite transmission?