DIN 8330 is the standard for pilot watches
TESTAF forms the basis for the standard in pilot watches
German DIN standards command a high level of respect both nationally and internationally, and represent the highest level of quality. The standard DIN 8330 for timekeeping technology in pilot watches, which came into force in March 2016, sets a new benchmark for safe, functional and reliable pilot watches. Watches certified in accordance with DIN 8330 are designed to fully assume the functions of the instruments for time measurement in aircraft and helicopters in the event of outages or suspected failures. This means that pilot watches must meet certain requirements in terms of functionality and reliability, resistance to external stresses, safety and compatibility.
As a long-established manufacturer of pilot watches, Sinn Spezialuhren took the initiative and promoted the development of a recognised DIN standard – the first new German watch standard in decades. It all started with the TESTAF technical standard for pilot watches developed by Sinn Spezialuhren in collaboration with the Department of Aerospace Technology at Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Building on this standard, and with the participation of the German watchmaking industry, the DIN 8330 standard for pilot watches was developed over a period of several years by users, testing institutes and scientists.
DIN 8330 defines what a pilot watch must be able to do and which stresses it must be able to withstand. This includes fast, clear readability of the dial both during the day and at night, the ability to operate the watch even while wearing pilot gloves and accuracy not only at room temperature but also at ranges of between –15°C and +55°C.
103 Ti UTC IFR in a centrifuge to check the G-load. It is tested with a load of 6 g.
The DIN 8330 standard takes the uncompromisingly high demands placed on aircraft and helicopter equipment and applies these to wristwatches. Building on TESTAF, the DIN standard widens the pool of certifiable watches (mechanical watches are now eligible as well as quartz watches) and features more stringent test criteria.
The DIN tests to determine physical resilience include not only a simple low-pressure test, but also a several-thousandfold pressure change cycle which simulates the stresses on the watch caused by changes in pressure during take-off and landing of an aircraft in daily long-haul operation. Resistance to liquids typically found in aircraft (fuel, lubricants, cleaning fluid and de-icing fluid) not only guarantees safety during flight operations but also provides additional protection on the ground. A DIN-certified pilot watch must also be able to withstand clearly defined vibrations, impact and centrifugal force loads, temperature changes and, not least, magnetic fields.
The safety features of a DIN-compliant pilot watch include a particularly secure strap fastening and the required compatibility with night vision equipment. Light reflections that could distract or dazzle the pilot are minimised, and the possibility of any interference with the plane’s avionics and emergency compass is eliminated as far as possible through tests. All this means that watches certified in accordance with DIN 8330 ensure better safety in the air and increased suitability for everyday use, going far beyond the shock-resistant and waterproof characteristics of standard watches. The aim of DIN 8330 is for such watches to be recognised by regulatory authorities, manufacturers and aircraft operators as a replacement for malfunctioning on-board instruments.
Differential pressure test in a vacuum desiccator: A pilot's watch according to DIN 8330, such as the 857 UTC VFR, must be able to withstand several thousand pressure cycles.
Test installation for impact and shock resistance testing.
Here, the 103 Ti IFR is being tested.
The DIN 8330 standard takes the uncompromisingly high demands placed on aircraft and helicopter equipment and applies these to wristwatches. Building on TESTAF, the DIN standard widens the pool of certifiable watches (mechanical watches are now eligible as well as quartz watches) and features more stringent test criteria.
Thanks to the DIN 8330 standard, we hope that pilot watches will once again be defined as watches offering special functional and technical features. The special quality standards that apply to a DIN 8330-certified pilot watch can be seen at every stage of its manufacture, from the selection of high-quality materials to production processes where special care is always taken and ultra-narrow tolerances apply. The goal is achieved in an extensive, complex type-and- unit verification procedure and a certification process carried out by a neutral institution in accordance with DIN/ISO 17065 and 17067. Only then can the watch be furnished with the well-known DIN certification mark.
With its support for the TESTAF and DIN 8330 initiatives, Sinn Spezialuhren underlined its aspiration to create functional, high-quality and high-tech watches. For the technologically sophisticated German watchmaking industry, the new standard for pilot watches provides major impetus to maintain and expand its leading role in this segment among the international competition.
The magnetic signature of a pilot watch certified according to DIN 8330 must not significantly divert the approved magnetic compasses in the aircraft through its physical proximity. The magnetic signature of a pilot watch is identified using a special test stand. A magnetic signature characteristically changes and/or influences existing magnetic fields. Using such a watch in the cockpit of an aircraft means that this characteristic could deflect the aircraft’s emergency compass. To prevent this, the test watch, in this case our 103 Ti IFR, is first demagnetised and then exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field of defined field strength. In the second stage of the test, the magnetic signature of the test watch is analysed using the test stand apparatus pictured. Additional protection may be provided by using non- magnetic materials such as titanium for the case. A timepiece which meets these design requirements will not then become a source of magnetic field interference, yet will still meet the DIN 8309 requirements for anti-magnetic watches.
The uncompromising development of mission timers designed for professional use should always take specific environmental factors into account and closely monitor any gradual changes in the field. For example, the fact that aircraft have not been fitted with conventional radar screens for many years now or that sources of magnetic fields which could interfere with the working of a mechanical watch are no longer built into modern cockpits. The Magnetic Field Protection incorporated in some of our models now offers greater protection from the influence of external magnetic fields on the rate of the movement. However, the specially designed protective cage used for this emits its own magnetic signature. Using such a watch in the cockpit of an aircraft means that this characteristic could deflect the aircraft’s emergency compass. In compliance with TESTAF, the solution should therefore be to dispense with using a magnetically soft internal cage and instead rely on non-magnetic materials such as titanium. A timepiece which meets these design requirements will not then become a source of magnetic field interference, yet will still meet the DIN 8309 requirements for anti- magnetic watches. DIN 8330, which is based on the TESTAF technical standard for pilot watches, also strictly limits and tests the maximum permissible magnetic signature of pilot watches.
