March 30, 2011
Three icons, I suppose you could say, identify pilots: Ray-Ban sunglasses, leather flight jackets and rather large watches.
Over the years, Ray-Bans have given way to more durable eyewear, but I do still wear the flight jacket. The watch thing until recently, though, hadn’t been a focus of mine.
But, that has changed.
Now, as I sit here with a tick-tock that cost more than my monthly mortgage payment strapped to my wrist, I wonder if I have lost my mind.
Expensive, accurate, functional, likely to prompt a stick-up … but, what the hell? After more than 30 years and 13,000 hours of accident- and incident-free flying, I think maybe I’m due for, well, a trophy of some sort. And, no, it’s not a Rolex; pilots wear Breitlings.
I told a pilot friend who also wears a Breitling that I finally broke down and bought mine. He laughed and said, “Hey, man, what’s the use of working if you can’t spend a little money on something that makes the statement that somewhere along the line you actually ‘made it’ at least once?”
That’s what got me to thinking.
My new watch represents fine craftsmanship and is considered by some – me included – as one of those ubiquitous “finer things” in life.
And, that is what my profession – as well as my friends’ in the yachting world – provides; one of the “finer things” in life.
Private aviation and yachting customers the world over expect our services to be those “finer things” and, if my watch is a reminder of that, then our presence aboard either bridge or flight deck should likewise always represent that, too.
Now, it might be silly to say that something as trivial as a new watch should be the constant reminder that customer service is the objective, but it sure beats a string around your finger.
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