The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hey everyone,

On the forum in different sections there has been so much confusion regarding the Emergency.

I think we should compile some info for some Breitling Emergency Owners and Prospective Owners.

Admin maybe a good topic for FAQ SEction.

1. Are the Emergencies monitored using a 120.5 or 121.5 Frequency .. a different one..or is the signal not strong enough that people are discouraged from buying them?

2. Is it a good idea to purchase a used Emergency..is it safe to purchase a used Emergency without paperwork?

3. Are Emergencies good for use other than flying. The common response is no...but I wouldn't be surprised.

4. Who wears the Emergency...ambassador celebrities or some members here that may be pilots?

5. What movement is the Emergency..is it quartz or auto?

Hopefully these common questions and discussions I come by can be answered for everyone to understand.

Ahem Roff..Driver..Admin..Mario...I think you guys will be on this quicker than a chaser tow truck ... thanks !

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GOTTA LOVE BREITLING!!!

Some quick and hopefully true answers:

1: The frequency is 121.5 Mhz, in the military versions it is 246.0 Mhz.

2: It should be ok to purchase a used Emergency BUT it involves a change of contract so without papers it is not wise to buy but you could do it. Chances are that you will have to pay big bucks when service comes...(more than 300-500$ that is)

3: Yes, they work as a normal watch BUT the distressfunction is only for aviation accidents. If you start the distress function otherwise it WILL cost you a lot of money...

4: I should say anyone from me (pilot) to celebrities (eg. Tom Cruise) wears it.

5: The movement is quartz (maybe superquartz) but that I'm sure someone else is better to answer that than me

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Breitling Navitimer Vintage
Breitling Emergency Mission

1)121.5 Mhz or 246 Mhz
2)Only buy them with full paperwork and transferpapers. Otherwise you may have problems getting it serviced.
3)It can also be used for lifethreatening accidents if you are outside the civilised world (e.g.trekking in Africa, the Amazone, the Artic...).
4)I'ld say only buy one if you are a pilot, oceansailor or regulary go on a (real) expedition. Don't buy one to be a wannabee or a show-off.
5)Depending the age it will be (super)quartz.

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Breitling Jupiter Pilot blue/reveil
Breitling B-1 blue
Breitling B-2 blue

Or buy one if you spend a lot of time flying (as a passenger).
I travel from the US to Asia and Europe usually one week every four.
I take my Emergency and if we go down it's going on!

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HeadOffice...
B1+UTC
B1+UTC
B2+UTC
Chronomatic 49
Emergency+UTC-Yellow
Emergency+UTC-Black
Emergency+UTC-Blue
Super Avenger
SuperOcean Heritage 46

-- Looking for B4B Le Mans

1. already answered
2. you and the seller need to redo the contract which i think a transfer doc can be obtained from breitling

3. the Contract specifically states point 2 'in clear situations of distress occuring exclusively in the context of aeronautical activites by pilkots or passengers of planes, helicopters, balloons, hot air balloons, airship, gliders, hang gliders, para gliders, ultra light aircraft and by skydivers' point 3 'any misuse or use outside the aeronautical context ..... may involve penalties'

so it says only that but at the end of the day SAR is there to save you regardless as long as you are in a life or death situation so if they dont fine you cause its a real emergency worst case you have to pay breitling 50% of the watch RRP to get the transmitter replaced!! IMO only

4. Brad Pitt, Bear Grylls, Orbiter 3 crew, Richard Branson

5. It used to be Quartz on first release but then there was a dial change and movement change (03 i think) and it went SQ

Damn, you are faster than me

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Breitling Navitimer Vintage
Breitling Emergency Mission

And just before someone posts the misleading information on monitoring............

It is not true that 121.5MHz is no longer monitored. The only change is that satellites are no longer going to be monitoring 121.5, aircraft, ships, etc will and the change in satellites is completely irrelevant to Emergency owners as the signal isn't strong enough to reach a satellite anyway.

In terms of appropriate / inappropriate use of the transmitter, we all know that it's supposed to be used only in aeronautical emergencies, but let's be honest if someone's life is saved due to an Emergency Breitling are going to be using that person in marketing, not making sure that they are fined for non aeronautical use!

exactly my point. ps the quotes i posted above are from breitling's contract for emergency owners obviously there is some text where i have ..... but you get the idea.

oh and more to the point if i did get fined for using it in a non aeronautical situation and it saved my life id pay the fine as id rather be here 10k lighter than dead!!

also assuming 121.5mhz is a general emergency freq then its only Breitling that impose aeronautical use as a condition therefore qworst case for using it in non AN mishap is as i said fixing the watch.

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BREITLING EMERGENCY + UTC CORAL DIALS
BREITLING AEROSPACE TITANIUM PROF (SOLD)
ROLEX SUBMARINER BI-COLOR BLUE DIAL
LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR DIVERS
PANERAI LUMINOR

Scandinavian Safety Training Centre started a project/event for Emergency owners, that focused not only on the transmitter itself but also basic survival tecniques for aviators, mariners and outdoors-people. I dont know what happen to event itself, but the folks at http://www.sstcab.se has a lot of knowledge about emergency response systems.

Maybe I can check with them if they have any additional info abt Emergency etc. If I get any info, articles etc I'll post it here.

//
Matt

I am a private pilot, and I always take my hand-held aviation transceiver with me when I go hiking in the mountains. I figure if the FAA wants to fine me for calling for help on 121.5, I will only have to pay the fine if my life has been saved. I would rather be alive and paying the fine than be dead but owe nothing. Same applies to the Emergency.

There was just a case in the Seattle area not too long ago where a woman lost control of her minivan and went off the road and down a hill into dense forest and vegetation. This occurred on a very busy road right in the middle of suburbia, and it took SAR 4 days to find her!! Since she did not go through a guard rail and the forest is so thick around here, there was no visible trace from the road. Nobody had witnessed the accident and the only clue they had was her cellphone (which only worked for a little while after the accident) which gave only a very vague idea as to her position.

By the time they found her she was almost dead and the police had arrested her husband for her murder. So the lesson here is, get yourself an Emergency, wear it even during everyday driving, and make $%!@# sure your wife wears one, too.

Mofongo

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

No, it is officially an aviation emergency frequency only. My guess is that civil aviation authorities would only let Breitling sell it if they made you sign paperwork indicating that you understood that.

If it is triggered accidentally, if you call immediately and report it you probably stand a good chance of not being fined. I would guess you still have to pay Breitling to reset it, though. ELTs in aircraft do go off accidentally (in fact, this happens way more often that actual emergencies).

Mofongo

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Question?
How do you know when/if you have activated the signal?
Does the watch make a sound or do you just have to trust that it is working?

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Navitimer

you need to pull out the antenna and hang in a vertical position.
just unscrewing the cap won't activate it (i think).

_________________
HeadOffice...
B1+UTC
B1+UTC
B2+UTC
Chronomatic 49
Emergency+UTC-Yellow
Emergency+UTC-Black
Emergency+UTC-Blue
Super Avenger
SuperOcean Heritage 46

-- Looking for B4B Le Mans