Prince William to fly with EAAA
It has been officially announced that Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, after completing a mandatory training period over the coming autumn and winter, will start work as a helicopter pilot with the UK’s East Anglian Air Ambulance in spring 2015.
It has been officially announced that Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, after completing a mandatory training period over the coming autumn and winter, will start work as a helicopter pilot with the UK’s East Anglian Air Ambulance in spring 2015. He will be based out of Cambridge and Norwich Airports and will fly day and night shifts, starting as a co-pilot but working towards qualifying as a commander.
The job – for which the Duke will sign an employment contract with a civilian employer, reportedly the first time that a member of the UK Royal Family in direct succession will have done so – will be his ‘primary occupation, but his roster will take into account the duties and responsibilities he will continue to undertake on behalf of The Queen, both in the UK and overseas’, according to a release. He will donate the entirety of his salary to charity. The role will build on his previous operational experience with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) Force, with whom he undertook over 150 SAR operations.
Andrew Egerton Smith, chairman of EAAA, commented: “Having the Duke of Cambridge as one of our pilots is marvellous news as he brings much experience to the charity after his successful career as a search and rescue pilot. We have an outstanding track record of attending people in the hour of need which is recognised and generously supported by our local communities”