Prince William is due to begin a new job as an air-ambulance pilot, mid-year after he and Duchess Catherine welcome their second child.
In preparation, the Duke of York 32, has commenced his occupational training with the Bond Air Services which will continue over coming months and will include on the-job training such as time in a simulator, aircraft and testing in-flight skills.
In joining the Bond Air services, for the East Anglia Air Ambulance, Wills will become the first contemporary royal who is an immediate heir, to take on a ‘civilian’ job outside the military or the world of royal duties.
Kensington Palace have confirmed that while the Duke will still tend to his royal duties, upon completing his training, his primary occupation will be air-ambulance pilot as he commences working full-time hours.
Conveniently, Bond Air services airfields are based primarily in Norwich, which is not far from William’s family home with Catherine, 33, little Prince George, 20 months and the future second royal bub, at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Duchess Catherine on her last official public royal engagement before the second royal baby arrives.
This is good news for the Prince, who will no doubt want to be close at hand for when the royal bub arrives. It’s believed that William will be afforded paternity leave when the new baby arrives.
Duchess Catherine meanwhile attended her last official public royal engagement with William over the weekend as she has now commenced her official maternity leave.
It was announced in February that the Prince has passed the 14 different written exams that allowed him to begin training. While he is already a trained pilot from his years serving in the military, he still has to complete 12 weeks on-the-job training to qualify him to fly commercially.
Prince William piloting a military Sea King helicopter during a training exercise in Wales in 2011
Prince William’s brother Harry of course, is also a trained military helicopter pilot and is still undertaking active duty with the army, which will include a stint in Australia as part of a secondment with the armed services here.
Imagine the thrill if you had to be rescued by an ambulance helicopter only to find that there was an actual Prince at the helm as your knight in shining armour! We’re sure Wills will do a stellar job!
Practising for his future job? Wills tested out a plane for size at a WW1 commemorative and Flying Day in New Zealand as he and Duchess Catherine toured downunder.
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