Prince William begins role as HEMS pilot
Prince William started his first operational shift as a pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) on 13 July.
Prince William started his first operational shift as a pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) on 13 July. The Duke, who will fly as Captain Wales, will be based out of Cambridge Airport, UK, as part of a team including specialist doctors, critical care paramedics and pilots providing emergency medical services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Speaking to reporters, the Duke admitted to feeling first-day nerves, but said he was looking forward to getting started.
The air ambulance charity commented: “EAAA is delighted that Captain William Wales has joined its Cambridge team. The helicopter crew and all staff welcome him warmly as indeed we do for all new staff. Captain Wales will join our helicopter emergency medical service, delivering highly skilled clinicians to the scene of an incident where they deliver emergency prehospital care.”
The job will build on Prince William’s operational experience in the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force, which he completed in September 2013. During this time, Flt Lt Wales (as he was known in the service) undertook more than 150 search and rescue operations. He explained: “It’s a follow-on from where I was with the military with search and rescue, [it involves] many of the same sorts of skills and in essence a similar type of job … It’s a natural progression, but equally, doing a job like this is worthwhile, valuable, and to me there’s an element of duty about it. I’m really quite keen to be involved with the guys and the girls doing a complex, professional job, and it was really important to me to be able to do that.”
A Kensington Palace statement noted the professional qualifications the Duke has completed during his training to fly HEMS missions, including an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (H). The Palace added that while this job will be the Duke’s primary occupation, his roster will take into account duties and responsibilities he will continue to undertake on behalf of the Queen, both in the UK and overseas. The Prince told reporters that he is enjoying the challenge of juggling his responsibilities as a pilot, a father and a member of the Royal Family.
In common with all other East Anglian Air Ambulance pilots, Prince William will be formally employed by Bond Air Services, but he has pledged to donate his salary to charity.
Video via EAAA: