Features
Advances in connected aviation watches

There is something cool about being a pilot or a devoted aviation enthusiast. It’s a lifestyle thing, which many aviators wear as a badge of honour. After all, there are very few of us in the world. Many student pilots rush out to acquire their first pair of aviator sunglasses, that Maverick look. Next on their shopping list is a watch.

Smartwatches continue to grow in popularity, especially with aviators, who can now leverage a range of useful apps. Equipped with GPS, WiFi, cellular, Bluetooth and a variety of sensors, combined with software (apps), the newest generation of smartwatches open up exciting capabilities. While there are many brands of smartwatches, from an aviation perspective, Apple’s WATCH lineup and Garmin’s D2 Mach 1, D2 Mach Pro and D2 Air X10 are focused on aviation. Critical to any smartwatch is access to aviation apps.

Garmin has been manufacturing aviation focused smartwatches since 2013 (D2 Pilot), but its first GPS-enabled watch was the Forerunner 201 announced in 2003. Based upon Garmin’s propriety operating system, the company’s watches are designed from the ground up to integrate with Garmin Pilot and receive flight plans, while supporting iOS and Android smartphones. Garmin has had a variety of legacy watches, such as Marque. Its current aviation focused smartwatches include top-of-the-line Garmin D2 Mach Pro (51 mm at $1,889 and 47 mm at $1,619), Garmin D2 Mach 1 (starting at $1,619) and its less expensive D2 Air X10 ($739).

The Garmin D2 Mach 1 sports a titanium case with the choice of either a fine Italian leather strap or a titanium bracelet. The watch is equipped with a 1.3-inch AMOLED display (33 mm), which is designed to operate in sunlight-rich environments like aircraft cockpits. Battery life is from one day to 14 days, depending on the mode which the watch is placed into. Expedition mode delivers up to 14 days. I fly with the smartwatch in GPS ONLY mode and have found that the smartwatch will routinely deliver 11 days between charges. Part of Garmin’s battery success is the physical size of the D2 Mach 1. It’s a chunky watch that has a lot of weight in the hand, which I like. I believe that Garmin provides better battery life by simply putting a larger battery into the case.

In late October 2023, Garmin released its newest aviator watch, the D2 Mach 1 Pro. The Pro builds upon the Mach 1, sporting: a titanium bracelet and silicon strap; 1.4-inch (51 mm) AMOLED display; display resolution of 454 x 454 pixels; battery life up to 25 days (10 days always on); weights 126 grams; and 32 GB memory. Sensors include SATIQ, pulse OX, blood OX, compass and thermometer with Bluetooth, ANT+ and WiFi connectivity. 

The Pro is equipped with a flashlight (white and red light) with varying white light intensities, a strobe function and red light for cockpit operations. A new feature called Red Shift Mode, changes the entire watch interface to shades of red to help preserve your eyesight during night operations. The ECG app allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Users can take a 30-second ECG recording and view the results immediately on their smartwatch and, optionally, later in the Garmin Connect smartphone app. With a larger dial (screen), apps are easier to read with more data. As with most computer technology, bigger is better, but with CPU tech living on your wrist, one size does not fit all.

To configure and manage the Garmin watch, there are several core apps: Garmin Connect; Garmin Pilot; Garmin IQ; Garmin Database Manager; Garmin Express; and FlyGarmin.com. Download Garmin Connect onto your smartphone (Android and iOS) and the user’s guide. Turn on the watch by pressing the LIGHT button (top left). The watch will boot up and recognize that it needs to be setup. A few questions will be asked and you can answer with either buttons or the touchscreen. Once the watch is setup, open Garmin Connect to complete customization of the watch. It will pair itself using Bluetooth to your smartphone. The watch can use WiFi to download data. I found it easier to input the WiFi SSID and password information using the Connect app rather than directly onto the watch. Next, use FlyGarmin.com to begin the navigation database update process and don’t forget to setup a Favorite Airport.

The D2 Mach 1 Pro includes all the preflight, in-flight and postflight features that pilots have come to know and trust from the D2 series, including a worldwide aeronautical database, HSI, Direct-to and moving map, all available without a phone connection. Pilots can stay informed with easy access to NEXRAD3, METARs, TAFs and MOS4 weather reports, alongside custom weather alerts and non-weather alerts like time, distance, altitude and a fuel timer. You can use the wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor to monitor blood oxygen levels and barometric altimeter for altitude alerts. And in case of an engine related issue, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can show the best glide speed, estimated glide distance and time, along with a bearing pointer to the nearest airport and a list of alternate airports.

Flight logging is a breeze with the D2 Mach 1 Pro, which automatically starts tracking flights on takeoff, then automatically transfers the date, duration, total flight time and route to the user’s flyGarmin.com logbook. Pilots can connect with the Garmin Pilot app to seamlessly transfer flight plans to the watch and view the list of waypoints included in their route. Additionally, for pilots operating a Garmin PlaneSync equipped aircraft, the D2 Mach 1 Pro can be used to access the aircraft dashboard to view status information, including fuel, electrical, database and location information while away from the aircraft.

Part of Garmin’s battery success is the physical size of the its watches like the D2 Mach 1, which sports a titanium case with the choice of either a fine Italian leather strap or a titanium bracelet.
PHOTO: Garmin

In October 2023, Apple announced WATCH ULTRA 2, WATCH SERIES 9 and iPhone 15. The WATCH line up consists of ULTRA 2, SERIES 9 and SE. ULTRA 2 is its premier watch and SE is entry level. ULTRA 2 is a beefier watch as compared to WATCH 9 or earlier models. Made from titanium, it sports a 49 mm titanium case, which is water resistant to 500 metres and IP6X dust resistant. The case incorporates a sapphire crystal and a larger Digital Crown, which makes using the watch easier, especially when wearing gloves.

On the righthand side of the watch are the familiar Digital Crown and Side Button, with a depth gauge and a three microphone array. On the lefthand side of the watch is a new Action Button (in International Orange), dual speakers and a siren. ULTRA 2 is designed to operate in temperatures from -20C to 55C. Battery life has been improved providing up to 36 hours of battery life under normal use. With low power settings enabled, however, up to 72 hours of use can be expected (a coming-soon feature). 

ULTRA 2’s built-in siren emits an 86 decibel sound pattern to aide in attracting search and rescue personnel. The siren can be heard up to 600 feet away to help attract searchers as they get closer to you.

What makes ULTRA 2 even more attractive to aviators is a 3,000 nits always-on Retina display. The bigger and brighter display will be more cockpit friendly than previous Apple WATCH versions. A Night Mode feature has been added which turns the display to a vivid red, perfect for night flights. Incorporating its new S9 SIP processor, Apple has enabled a Double Tap Gesture capability. With a new double tap gesture, users can easily control ULTRA 2 using just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly perform many of the most common actions. Double tap will also open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.

Apple has three different bands available with ULTRA 2: Alpine Loop, Trail Loop and Ocean Band. A big change with WATCH 9 and ULTRA 2 is a dual constellation GPS. Previous Apple WATCH versions had an L1 GPS chip, which worked well when the watch had a clear line of sight to the sky. Apple has added a new L5 GPS chip which enables advanced signal processing, providing a more consistent signal in environments like dense cities, improving accuracy and delivering more precise metrics.

Apple WATCH 9 and ULTRA 2 have two improved sensors: an accelerometer good to 256G and gyroscope. These two new sensors enable a distress feature, called Crash Detection. With the built-in microphones, new sensors and advanced algorithms, Crash Detection can detect a car crash and initiate an Emergency SOS call using the cellular capability of WATCH or the cellular/satellite capabilities of iPhone. (iPhone 14 and 15 is needed for satellite connectivity.)

Aviation APPS which operate on WATCH are limited as compared to iPad and iPhone. WATCH compatible apps are installed using the WATCH app on an iPhone. Simply download and install iPhone compliant APPS like AeroWeather Pro onto your iPhone. Then open the WATCH app on your iPhone and scroll down to AVAILABLE APPS. Press the INSTALL button beside the APP. A short list of WATCH compatible aviation apps include: LakeHorn’s AeroWeather PRO, AeroAltitude, Metar Plot for Apple Watch; ZuluTime; LogTen; Sporty’s E6-B; WatchMETAR; Altimeter for Aviators; and MyFlightBook.Aviation Mobile Apps LLC has a bundle with myE6B, METARS Aviation, FAR AIM, Holding Pattern Computer, GPS Coordinate Converter, Time Calculator for Pilots; Aithre Connect. Available apps also include MyRadar, Windy, PlaneWatcher, FlightAware and Flightradar24, to name a few. Do not forget Apple’s Blood Oxygen, Calculator, Compass, ECG, Heart Rate, Maps, Stopwatch, Timers, Weather and World Clock apps. The Blood Oxygen app is priceless when flying at altitude and thinking about hypoxia.

WATCH ULTRA 2 retails at $1,099 (plus taxes and shipping), regardless of the strap model or sizing. For those on a budget, you might consider Apple’s WATCH 9 series available in two sizes – 41 mm and 45 mm – and starts at $549; or WATCH SE starting at $329. Included in the box is the WATCH, the band and a USB-C charging cord. WATCH 9 can be configured with either GPS or GPS/Cellular. The Cellular option adds $130. The 45 mm WATCH 9 adds $40 over the 41 mm size. AppleCare can be added as well.

Paired with the new versions of WATCH is watchOS 10, which is Apple’s largest update to watchOS since the introduction of WATCH. watchOS 10 has new features including: redesigned apps and a new Smart Stack feature; new watch faces; Night Mode uses the ambient light sensor to automatically activate; updated compass; and state-of-mind logging to name a few. 

Watches are a personal decision, a wearable computer which delivers a statement about you. Old school or new school, on the ground or in the air, the delivery of data on your wrist changes the interaction between aviator and machine, while delivering a fashion statement.