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Hamilton celebrated the launch of its new, multi-functional pilot watch, the Khaki Flight Timer, in the ski village of Zermatt, Switzerland, on Friday the 10th of December, together with a dozen journalists from around the world, including 00/24 WatchWorld editor Ellen Stoffels. The product launch also marked the beginning of Hamilton’s official partnership with Air Zermatt, Switzerland’s prestigious and highly skilled helicopter rescue and transport service. High above the Swiss Alps aboard a cable car, Ellen Stoffels and the other journalists were surprised with a simulated rescue mission when Hamilton executives advised them that their cable car had “stalled” at 3,200m in the air. Participants then “evacuated” the cable car through the roof and were transported safely by helicopter to the ground below, experiencing first-hand the skill and expertise of the Air Zermatt team.

Aerobatic stunts up in the air
But that wasn’t all. The pilots of Air Zermatt took us to Restaurant Fluhalp , situated at 2,620 m altitude. There, on the terrace, we saw how Red Bull Air Racer Nicolas Ivanoff (44, born in Corsica, France) showed us his aerobatic skills up in the air with his Edge 540, Cap 232. Under the pressure of at least 15G and surrounded by the Swiss mountains, he did some exclusive stunts. Ivanoff is one of the best aerobatic pilots in the world and works closely with Hamilton.

 

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Khaki Flight Timer
So, thanks to Hamilton, Air Zermatt and Nicolas Ivanoff it was a thrilling event. But with this huge adrenaline kick, we almost forgot why we were in the heights of Zermatt! At Restaurant Fluhalp, Sylvain Dolla, CEO Hamilton, presented the first three working – not the dummy! – Khaki Flight Timer. Gerold Biner, CEO Air Zermatt, and his two companions had the honour to wear the first examples of the brand new pilot watch. That makes sense, if you know that it took Air Zermatt and Hamilton two years to develop the watch. What’s so special about it is that it has an digital logbook, integrated on the dial, to document the flights. It enables the pilot to record his flying hours so that he have prove of clocking the number required each year for him to retain his license. Equally as important is its role in alerting the pilot that an engine service for the helicopter or airplane in question is due. The digital logbook, activated by the pusher positioned at 10 o’clock, records all the data that a pilot has to report: the block run time (when the plane begins to taxi), the take-off time, the landing and the block close time (when the plane has stopped before switching off the engine). The Khaki Flight Timer integrates more aviation facilities: the Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) to complement am/pm and 24-hour timing, the ISA (International Standard Atmosphere) temperature, a bidirectional bezel as well as a countdown. And to cover every eventuality, there is a low battery indicator

Besides the digital logbook, there are more functions. You can use the second time zone feature with a swap facility allowing you to reverse the two digital time zones (T1 and T2) easily through a short press of the crown at 2 o’clock. Other highlights are the addition of the daily and yearly alarms, the perpetual calendar, the date and week in four languages, the chronograph and the digital display light and the Superluminova hands.

Especially for the Air Zermatt team Hamilton made a limited edition that is personalized with the Air Zermatt logo engraved at the case-back of the watch and on the strap. Also the name of each Air Zermatt pilot will be showed on the strap. In stores the Khaki Flight Timer will be available in six variations: silver-coloured, anthracite or black dials with a stainless steel case and different straps like the brown leather, soft black or orange rubber strap. A classical metal bracelet is also available.