Garmin has released a new version of the D2 Bravo aviator watch, the D2 Bravo Titanium, with new features and capabilities such as a heart-rate monitor, titanium band and high-resolution color display, as well as flight plan and user waypoint transfer from the Garmin Pilot app to the new watch. The D2 Bravo Titanium retails for $899 (the D2 Bravo’s price is $599).

Owners of the existing D2 Bravo can install a free software upgrade that adds display of TAFs (in addition to Metars), automated flight logging, new activities (golf, for one) and the flight plan and waypoint transfer capability. The update also allows D2 Bravo owners to display a new aviation-tailored customized watchface that offers an optional tail number display, a handy feature to help pilots recall their ATC callsign when flying different aircraft.

What sets the D2 Bravo Titanium apart from its older sibling is the redesigned case and the new carbon-coated hybrid titanium band. The first D2 comes with a thick leather band, which is comfortable and handsome, but a bit bulky for a watch that is already fairly hefty. The titanium band is a bit more subdued while still stylish and modern with a bit of an industrial flavor. The new sapphire lens complements the gunmetal bezel and makes viewing the high-resolution color display a pleasure. Watch faces and data fields can be customized using the Garmin Connect mobile app, and various widgets and apps are also available on the Connect IQ store.

While the D2 Bravo Titanium delivers a lot of functionality when connected with a smartphone, including notifications, the latest color-coded Metars and TAFs and flight plan and waypoint transfer, I like that many of its features are available as a standalone device, unlike the Apple Watch. The D2’s navigation and aviation functions are much deeper than any Apple Watch app that I’ve seen so far, and Garmin isn’t sitting still on making the D2 series more useful by listening to customer feedback and broadening the product line. All of the D2’s activity functions can operate independently of a smartphone, making running or bicycling much easier when you don’t have to carry a paired mobile device. And golfers can download more than 40,000 courses onto the watch and use it to track scores and measure distances on the course. Among other sport functions are rowing, swimming, hiking and skiing, and users can track steps taken and calories consumed, stand up and move when reminded by an hourly vibration and track sleep quality.

In-cockpit Uses

The D2 can be used anywhere because it has a worldwide airport database and offers support for 18 languages. If unable to transfer a flight plan from Garmin Pilot, D2 wearers can use the watch itself to create a flight plan or simply navigate direct to an airport. The watch’s barometric altimeter is adjustable to the local altimeter setting, and pilots can set an oxygen reminder that will provide an alert when altitude (or cabin altitude in a pressurized airplane) exceeds 12,500 feet or when reaching or leaving a preselected altitude. Pilots can also set timed vibration alerts as reminders for regularly scheduled events such as switching fuel tanks.

Watch views when navigating include an HSI and moving map; instruments page showing baro altitude, speed, heading and vertical speed; nearest page with bearing, ETE and distance to the nearest airport and current heading; and a waypoint page for the selected or flight-planned destination, with bearing to, ETE, distance remaining to the destination and the current heading. Some of the data fields are customizable.

The D2 Bravo Titanium, like the original D2, has a useful timer with vibration and audible alerts (either one or both can be shut off). What I like about the timer is that it can be used to set the countdown time on an IFR approach. Of course setting a timer on the watch during a busy period of flight shouldn’t be a priority, but if the destination approach is known ahead of time, it’s worthwhile setting up the timer before the descent phase.

When wearing the Bravo Titanium, pilots can use it to log flights. The watch automatically begins recording when it detects a change in altitude on takeoff. Date, total time and route are recorded by the watch, and this data can be shared with the Garmin Pilot app and the flyGarmin website.

Garmin’s Virb XE action camera integrates with the D2 Bravo Titanium, which controls starting and stopping video, allows viewing of elapsed time during video recording and can be used to capture still photos on the Virb.