William to fly air ambulance

[Sun Who]

BBC News - Prince William to join East Anglian Air Ambulance (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28685666)

Good on him say I. :D

Sun.

[CoffmanStarter]

I agree ... Well done Sir :ok:

[NutLoose]

He will be paid a salary which he will donate in full to the charity, Kensington Palace said.




Good on him, I wonder if they will be able to claim his tax back? Otherwise they will still be paying out tax and NI on the money they will be getting back... Funny old world.

[smujsmith]

I, for one, salute his intent and commitment to his chosen profession. The salary to charity will hopefully return to the service he will work for, perhaps allowing them to recruit yet another pilot. I know its a stupid statement, but if you read the comments about this in the papers, there appear to be a lot of anti royals, with great big "I won't allow this bloke any good publicity" chips on their shoulders posting. It's a win all round for my money, not least that he will give the charity some real sponsorship. Well done Bill Wales:ok:

Smudge:ok:

[Lower Hangar]

IDS must be really chuffed. His 'back to work' welfare initiatives are really working!

[Ali Barber]

Good for him! I'm assuming he's a higher rate tax payer. Maybe he can "deed/gift of covenant" (whatever it is called) and give back more than he gets? (Not a tax lawyer, but signed up at recent museum visit and glad to contribute)

[brakedwell]

I presume he will have to obtain a CPL (H) or whatever it is called now.

[CoffmanStarter]

^^^ .......... ^^^

The Duke will begin training for his Air Transport Pilot's Licence (Helicopter) in September, which is estimated to take a minimum of five months to complete.

Press release (http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/news-and-diary/10780/press-release)

[BEagle]

NutLoose wrote:I wonder if they will be able to claim his tax back? Otherwise they will still be paying out tax and NI on the money they will be getting back...

To be honest, who gives a $hit? Good for you, Wills!

[Bob the Doc]

going to be a little crowded in there with his personal protective officer!

[Tankertrashnav]

personal protective officer!

You mean HRH has someone to carry his johnnies around for him?

Great decision - good luck to him!

[Davef68]

I'd imagine in that case he's going to fly their new EC145 rather than the EC135. the 145 can carry 5 crew rather than the 135's 3.

[GreenKnight121]

The Rotorheads forum has been bantering on about this since May - with a lot of whinging and Royal-bashing, of course: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/540438-prince-william-air-ambulance.html

[fallmonk]

Good on that man, he could have quiet easily took on full royal duties , going around the world,shaking hands and opening facility's full time.
But he has decided to put his training to good use ,
Although am sure it's a bit of a headache for his protection team but like all professionals they will work around him.

[GipsyMagpie]

He clearly hasn't read CAP804 - by my reckoning he could get a frozen ATPL in 9 hrs minimum (military credits). I suppose some of that is to pass the exams - surprised the press haven't picked up on the fact it is taking 5 months for him to learn something he already knows how to do - fly a helicopter

[26er]

If he needs to have a personal protection officer with him surely this guy should have some qualification making him a useful member of the crew, e.g. paramedic, and probably the rest of the crew will be expected to assist with p.p. if necessary.

[Wensleydale]

An armed Air Ambulance! Whatever next?

[RUCAWO]

This is one of the qualifications available for a police CP officer .Authorised firearms officer medical enhanced trainingFirst Aid Training Courses Essex, London & Herts | In house (http://www.lazarustraining.co.uk/police-first-aid-courses/authorised-firearms-officer-medical-training-enhanced-level/)

This is offered by a private company but many forces ,I know PSNI ,two friends of mine have it, and I would guess the Met provide it in house. So very useful to have onboard.

[Courtney Mil]

Outstanding. Very well done. :ok:

[FantomZorbin]

We'll done Sir:D
Perhaps this will highlight the daft situation which requires the Air Ambulance fleet to pay VAT on the fuel it uses:mad:

[NutLoose]

This is one of the qualifications available for a police CP officer .Authorised firearms officer medical enhanced trainingFirst Aid Training Courses Essex, London & Herts | In house

This is offered by a private company but many forces ,I know PSNI ,two friends of mine have it, and I would guess the Met provide it in house. So very useful to have onboard.

But on the ground you wouldn't want him distracted from his main purpose for being there.

[teeteringhead]

Perhaps this will highlight the daft situation which requires the Air Ambulance fleet to pay VAT on the fuel it uses Good point FZ.

Do "Ground" Ambulances (you know what I mean) pay VAT on theirs?? If they don't, then the Air ones shouldn't.

[charliegolf]

going to be a little crowded in there with his personal protective officer!

Did said officer fly on his SK trips?

CG

[Shiny10]

His intentions are very admirable but not well thought out. Who is going to pay for the extra protection that will be required?

Is an RAF Helicopter full of his protection squad going to escort him to every 'shout' to provide security?

How easy will it be for the lunatics/fanatics to stage/cause a road accident to get him on-site?

We would have been better off if he took a job flying to the oil rigs in the North Sea where security is already tight.

The title of “Second in line to the Throne” carries necessary restrictions.

Sorry for being such a pessimist/realist! :(

[Tashengurt]

Hmm. I'm going to make a guess that before this was announced to the world, someone, somewhere was asked to take a look at it and carry out a bit of a risk assesment.
I'd also guess that that risk assessment determined that no-one's really out to get the royals. Not saying there aren't people out there who'd take a pop but there maybe aren't any known plots.
It also probably considered that Air Ambulance attendance is, pretty much by definition, in response to random unplanned events.
You can't just ring up and ask for the Air Ambo. It's requested by first responders so it'd take a determined effort by a volunteer to be ill or injured enough to trick its attendance.
They perhaps came up with the conclusion that, on balance, HRH flying a helicopter to unknown locations at unscheduled times is less risky than cycling in London. Or playing polo. Or pretty much anything. :ugh:

[teeteringhead]

Exactly so Tashengurt.

And surely all of Shiny 10's objections would have applied (and consequently have been addressed) during his time as a SarBuoy.

Got a "good pair of hands" by all accounts - he'll spend long enough cutting ribbons at exciting (sic) extruded plastics factories and knighting faceless bureaucrats - let him have a bit of fun right now AND (continue to) do a proper job.

Good on yer Sir.

[olympus]

He could donate his salary back to East Anglian Air Ambulance (or fly for free). It's a registered charity that I am happy to contribute a modest amount to each month.

[Could be the last?]

Surely as a qualified mil pilot it would have been a lot less hassle and cost for him to do a 32(R) OCU and fly the Squirrel? Keeps him in touch with the Services, he continues to be a Patron of the charity, and someone who needs a job gets one.........

[jayteeto]

Olympus, he is???????

[gr4techie]

..........

40k is about 1% of kensington palace's renovation. Noble.

[sunside]

Will every one of his missions then become a Royal Flight with the associated restrictions?

[Alber Ratman]

It is ridiculous that the air ambulances in this country get no state aid at all. I have the NWI based EAAA 135 fly over my office on the most direct approach to land as possible (to save fuel that a standard Helo approach in would take). You do not see that in other countries were the state actually helps out with their air ambulances. I do already sponsor the EAAA and have done so for the last year to help to increase its cover to 24 hours..

[barnstormer1968]

Tashengurt said:

Hmm. I'm going to make a guess that before this was announced to the world, someone, somewhere was asked to take a look at it and carry out a bit of a risk assesment.
I'd also guess that that risk assessment determined that no-one's really out to get the royals. Not saying there aren't people out there who'd take a pop but there maybe aren't any known plots.
It also probably considered that Air Ambulance attendance is, pretty much by definition, in response to random unplanned events.
You can't just ring up and ask for the Air Ambo. It's requested by first responders so it'd take a determined effort by a volunteer to be ill or injured enough to trick its attendance.
They perhaps came up with the conclusion that, on balance, HRH flying a helicopter to unknown locations at unscheduled times is less risky than cycling in London. Or playing polo. Or pretty much anything.

That was actuall pretty funny IMHO.
Are you really saying that for groups who have volunteers who will blow themselves to pieces that 'being injured' would be difficult ?

So, would he be easy to track down? Yes, ultra easy. There will only be one chopper he could fly, it will fly from a known location and would be quite easy to call out to a remote location
Would an armed CP chap in the cockpit help?
Maybe yes, maybe no, but its unlikely he could stop a hail of 7.62 or something from a man pad...........yes they are rare, but future monarchs are even rarer :)
I'm not saying you are wrong, but it just seems comical. What would be great would be if at some time in the future he picks up some injured radical and it gave the tabloids a chance to print some fantastic headlines. Being rescued by the future head of your sworn enemy would be great PR for the establishment

[Tashengurt]

but future monarchs are even rarer

Ah, but we've got a spare!:E :ok:

[500N]

More than one spare as well !!!

[The Old Fat One]

It is utterly essential for the monarchy to reinvent themselves in order to survive. That isn't a point that will go down to well on here, but no matter as most of us represent the past, not the future.

Modern royals will necessarily have to be, and be seen to be, normal, functional members of society, or society will sh1t can them in short order.

FWIW, the two princes really do appear to be damn fine eggs, and therefore ideally suited to the their modern roles.

[CoffmanStarter]

Absolutely spot on TOFO :ok:

[500N]

Agree.

They complain that Charles did or does nothing, then when two fine young men actually want to and do take an active part - probably far more involved and active than Charles ever did, they complain as well.


The Air Ambulance will get millions of pounds benefit out of William being a pilot,
the type of publicity they couldn't afford to pay for. And not just this AA but all AA's in the UK.

[GreenKnight121]

More people have talked about air ambulance services in the UK in the last 3 months than in the previous 10 years combined.

That means a lot of people actually paying attention for the first time ever.

Then there is the saddest bunch of whinging anti-royal handwringing worthless sods I've ever seen, bitching and moaning about someone worth 10 of any of them.

Pathetic display, PPRuNers.

[barnstormer1968]

Green knight
If the situation was slightly different I think you would have been making a fair point, but the situation is where it is.
This isn't a RAF SAR where baddies may only have a 50% chance of getting a royal once he was outside of a secure base.

This is a 100% opportunity to hit someone flying from an easy to attack place. It wouldn't even be the first time an emergency helicopter base has been attacked.

I love the fact he wants to continue to fly ( other nameless royalty just forgot about after their military service), and can only agree with others that I have only heard very positive stuff about him.

But, IF once he has trained some group of nutters proclaim they are going to shoot him down etc then would you wish him to carry on in role, and what of the injured passengers............would you think that a few dozen rounds of 7.62 through them would make a difference to their recovery?

In the UK we have have helicopters brought down with machine gun fire, and we have had emergency service bases attacked. We have even had royalty blown up by terrorists (if we count the apparent 'major success' in murdering Lord Mountbatten)

[jayteeto]

Everyone out there, please don't keep suggesting that AA should be government funded. WE DON'T WANT IT!!!

Why???? In my local area, to save money, they have binned one police helicopter and are talking about binning another. Both in one of the busiest areas of the country. The Air Ambulance has ADDED one aircraft during this time taking us up to 3. If we had been government funded, they would have studied response times, massaged the figures and.......... reduced us to one aircraft. :{

[FantomZorbin]

Point taken jayteeto, BUT the Air Ambulances should NOT pay tax on the fuel they use.

[Wander00]

The NHS budget benefits hugely from AA, not least because more patients make it to treatment inside the "golden hour". This should be recognised in any way possible - yacht clubs using RIBs as safety boats get VAT back on the fuel used for this purpose, why not AAs on their fuel? The RYA could provide chapter and verse.

[Basil]

I regret to have to say that I do not agree that Prince William should operate as an air ambulance pilot.
1. Can we be assured that he will have the same amount of 'stick time' as the other pilots?
2. A Beeb report says that he will be accompanied by a security officer. In a small helicopter? Ridiculous!
3. How much disruption will his presence cause to the operation? I feel sorry for the unit manager.
4. Let's be clear that this is a PR exercise for the enhancement of the public image of HRH.

Sorry, Sir, you are not helping.

[Genstabler]

Basil

1. During his time at RAF Valley, The Duke undertook a total of 156 search and rescue operations, resulting in 149 people being rescued. Since joining the Royal Air Force, The Duke completed over 1,300 flying hours. That does it for me.
2. Yes, the Beeb's report is completely ridiculous. I hope you have more sense than to believe it.
3. Almost certainly none. Why should it? And the free publicity the AA is gaining is priceless.
4. Ah, now I see where you are coming from! The dreaded palace PR machine that dictates everything the royals do or say! It's a conspiracy!

[Courtney Mil]

Yep, what Gen just said. :ok:

[Basil]

Gentlemen, thank you for your courteous replies. I'd half expected some 'frothing at the mouth' responses.
I am not at all anti Royal Family; just have misgivings about recency.

[gr4techie]

Quite a good article to balance the argument, considering that I usually don't like this newspaper...

PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Time this reluctant royal heir grew up | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2720388/PLATELL-S-PEOPLE-Time-reluctant-royal-heir-grew-up.html#comments)

[mikip]

THe trouble with Amanda Platell's comments is that her column regularly consists solely of vitriol aimed at anybody and everybody, although I am not a regular reader I have never seen her say anything even remotely nice about anybody. Poor WIlliam is dammed if he sticks solely to Royal duties, he'll be called 'sponger', 'parasite' etc, however if he get's a proper job, which he has done, he ends up being accused of shirking his duties, poor (not financially obviously) bloke just can't win, at least he is not actually taking a salary, what more do people want him to do?

[Nige321]

PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Time this reluctant royal heir grew up | Mail Online

And what exactly does Amanda Platell give back to the country...:yuk:

[airpolice]

Fantom, I hope it will do more to highlight the fact that the Air Ambulance is a charity.

I wonder what percentage of the Defence budget cutbacks it would take to run a National Air Ambulance Service.

Showing that kind of figure might be enough to make a case for saying that; with the MOD losing X capability to refund the Treasury Y Millions, perhaps they could only give back Z Millions to Treasury. that would allow them to give the tax paying public a better chance of survival.

[Warmtoast]

And what exactly does Amanda Platell give back to the country

...which one? She's Australian I believe.

[500N]

She is an Aussie.

And I just looked up here Bio, apart from back packing around the world and working for a few Tory pollies, she has been a journo, mostly freelance.

[Whenurhappy]

I was at a briefing a while back where the (now published) budget of one of the security services was described as ' a rounding error of the MoD's budget'!

[Wander00]

Stupid comments to make - suggest she stops whining and gets a real job - well journalism, at least her sort, is IMHO not a "real" job, it is just rehashing what she has seen or heard elsewhere

[November4]

If he wanted to continue to fly....why did he leave the RAF?

[Basil]

mikip, Poor WIlliam is dammed if he sticks solely to Royal duties, he'll be called 'sponger', 'parasite' etc, however if he get's a proper job, which he has done, he ends up being accused of shirking his duties
Damned if you do etc. Pretty much the lot of most in public office, elected or born. At least those elected can walk away - hmm, come to think of it, Edward the 8th :hmm:

[Tankertrashnav]

If he wanted to continue to fly....why did he leave the RAF?

You could ask that of innumerable pilots in civil aviation. And before you say "money" (which doesn't apply in HRH's case), there are loads earning less in civil flying than they could be making had they stayed in the service.

[melmothtw]

Previously I might have mentioned the Jim'll Fix It lifestyle that the Royals enjoy, where they can pick and choose what profession they want to be today regardless of their qualifications, but that now has somewhat different connotations...

[Fortissimo]

Basil, why are you concerned about recency? He will have to do his ATPL and a type rating, and then he will have to comply with the same regs as everyone else. It's not an issue.

Or did you mean regency, which is something else entirely?

[Basil]

Fortissimo, Ha! Perhaps one can offset one against t'other ;)

I wish HRH and his unit well in the venture but just think that, what with Royal engagements etc, it will be difficult to maintain the standard which, I'm sure, he would otherwise achieve.

[F4TCT]

Ive asked this before but never really got the answer i was after...

doesn't the military syllabus cover similar topics as in depth as the ATPL?

I guess what im trying to say is that you go in the RAF, fly jets/choppers, come out - then you should breeze the ATPL......right?

Dan

[Basil]

F4TCT, Going back to leaving the RAF in '73 (when I already had a CPL), I still had to study for, and pass the CAA exams. Although I had a Transport Command & Strike Command procedural IR I still had to fly the CAA Initial IRT.

Not a breeze because one had to study for the specific civil exams. I used Avigation, who were very good but recollect a chap turning up for a week or two in class and being sent home because he hadn't done enough home study to cope with the intensity of the classroom.

[gr4techie]

So what happens if he were to fail the ATPL exams?

[melmothtw]

So what happens if he were to fail the ATPL exams?

A royal failing an exam? Impossible.

[Tankertrashnav]

Edward didnt pass Lympstone.

Mind you, no shame in that, I'd never pass it in a million years :eek:

[melmothtw]

They could only stretch the bounds of credulity so far ;-)

[gr4techie]

Did this one pass P-Company? Would have liked to have seen him milling !

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/53454000/jpg/_53454447_prince_charles_para_304.jpg

[ShyTorque]

So what happens if he were to fail the ATPL exams?

He would no doubt study a bit more and retake them. Just like anyone else would.

[Al R]

I don't know if the monarchy pays IHT, or if charities would be included (RNLI etc?) but this recent consultation from HMRC provides an interesting reference. If this is wealth preservation at its most imaginative, then I doff my cap. ;)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335855/140723_IHT_Exemption_Condoc_vFinal.pdf

The Government wishes to extend the Inheritance Tax exemption for armed forces personnel who die on active service to all emergency service personnel who die in the line of duty, or whose death is hastened by injury incurred in the line of duty.

Having said that, HMRC is about to consult on a pre-loaded HMRC measure though, pay before you die. Oh, the joy.

[goofer]

Genstabler and all other loyal saps, the Palace PR machine is not a myth. And it's not a doe-eyed defence of helpless Windsors from heartless British journalists. It's actually something far more interesting... and more disquieting. Look closely and you'll see that it's the mutated offspring of Charles's requirement to deodorise his stinky affair with the wife of Brigadier Parker-Bowles and an Alistair-Campbell era assumption that you can harness benign patriotic goodwill to the self-interest of a privileged few. Response invited from anyone who would wish to argue a contrary point of view. And before you ask, I'm a royalist - and a supporter of air ambulances. Goofer.

[500N]

goofer

Agree with you re the PR machine.

Diana also used (her) PR / the media very well to sway opinion.

I do think the two Princes are doing very well indeed and the AA will get a lot of benefit out of having William as a pilot.

I'm a royalist as well.

[Genstabler]

Goofer

If you're a royalist then I'm a republican!

Loyal sap.

[goofer]

Fair dooz chaps. Excuse the minor late night rant re PR, though I stand by every word. Quite agree the flying careers of PW and PH are a sound example to the younger generation. What comes next is critical and in this PW's interim career choice could hardly be bettered. Mind you, as a royalist, I have doubts about the future of the institution as currently configured. Loyal doesn't have to mean uncritical:the Glorious Revolution (etc) succeeded because the saps wised up.

Goofer

[nutnurse]

Pikeys have been known to attack the civilian emergency services so some means of defending themselves (gas? pepper spray?), Flt Lt Wales (Rtd) on board or not, would seem to be moving from 'useful' to 'essential'. The RAF SAR policy has been that the winchman is a paramedic and is in control of the casualty, what he/she says goes, and he/she can be overruled by the captain only if the aircraft is in danger, regardless of their respective ranks, while all other back crew are trained at least to ambulance technician standard. I should hope that a Royal & Diplomatic Protection Officer is trained to that standard as a matter of course. If not, wake up, Met!

But if the future Capt Will Wales finds himself in a small chopper with only a paramedic then he does, it's what he's volunteered for and good luck and all praise to him! (Before any person of pedantic disposition points out that because of his royal peculiarities WW is already a Captain, although inactive, in the Blues & Royals, I know that thanks I'm referring to the civil aviation rank/status.)

BTW it's surely counter-productive for a member of the back crew to use a firearm on the service users.

[nutnurse]

Re goofer's post 21, dodgy spin doctors go way back before the Blessed Alastair, or Bernard Ingham for that matter. Read Samuel Pepys' Diaries, written during the reign of Charles II, and you'll see what I mean.

[Basil]

(Before any person of pedantic disposition points out that because of his royal peculiarities WW is already a Captain, although inactive, in the Blues & Royals
Hah! Reminds me of a long time Pruner of my acquaintance who has three sons: two civil pilots and one Army.
Army one walks in and says "Huh, I've made Captain before you two!" :)

[Basil]

Read Samuel Pepys' Diaries, written during the reign of Charles II, and you'll see what I mean.
Yes, and, politically speaking, Shakespeare kept his nose clean.

[Typhoon93]

Good on him.

[goofer]

Nutnurse, an interesting point re Pepys. Arguably his output - and the liberal climate typified by much Restoration theater - helped create the circumstances in which Charles II's successor could be so swiftly rumbled and replaced. Pepys less forthcoming on air ambulances, alas, but the perils of blurring the line between royalty and celebrity stand the test of time. The safeguard, as always, is a vigilant media and a healthy scepticism about spoon-fed palace platitudes.

Goofer

[LXGB]

LFA 5 and LFA 10 ROMEO then? :)

[F4TCT]

Has anyone asked why he left the RAF in the first place?

This is why i hate the royals, they get everything on a plate. Not a military man, although wish i had been for the flying side of it - despite being offered it.

not sure on how military hours carry over to the civy world but 1300 in the grand scheme of things isn't a lot is it.

So he goes and does his CPL then lands his first 'job' flying an air ambulance. I wonder how many other ordinary people with triple the hours, leaving the RAF and then doing the CPL and essentially starting again would get the chance to jump into what seems a fairly lucrative job.

Its like a ppl doing the minimum hours through the CPL, IR, etc etc.. and landing a job on a 747..

[Thomas coupling]

You sound like a very twitter and bisted person F4TCT.
Why would anyone ask why did he leave the RAF? They already know. Doesn't everyone? He did a full tour on SAR and his time was up. He could have stayed, he could have disappeared into the royal gloop or he could have told his advisers that he wasn't ready to hang his goggles up yet and wished to try something new. We have a saying in the mil brother: RHIP.
If you've got it............flaunt it.

He's eminently capable from a practical perspective. He wasn't from a paper perspective (as all mil pilots aren't when they turn to civvy street) but he has now completed what ALL abo's in civvy street have done - his CPL exams.

Cheer up - it could be worse he could have gone FW!

[Evalu8ter]

F4TCT,
1300 hrs isn't a lot? Well he's flown Tutor, Tucano, Squirrel, B412 and Chinook and been a SAR Op Captain. Perhaps RHIP could be levelled at the first few, but he earned the latter. His 1300 hrs (day, night, NVG, IR) put him on a higher level than most straight through civvies. Life's not fair - deal with it.

Ps- with that chip on your shoulder I'm glad you passed on the military...

[F4TCT]

Ive got no chip at all.

Im no expert at all the regs and so on, however don't hours on military hardware mean practically sod all in the civvy world? (obviously the skill and experience would carry over)

All i will say, atleast he appears to be a pilot through and through in the sense that he loves what he does and wants to continue it. Then again, why an air ambulance, why not just buy something and blast around the country taking kate for lunch...

i prefer him to all the royals, although cant help buy feel doors have been opened and avenues created....

nuff said.

[Evalu8ter]

F4,
I take it you're not an aviator then? He will have flown in far more demanding conditions than most, but not all, straight through civvy pilots. 1300 hrs of high class instruction, early responsibility and variety are worth a lot more than 1300 hrs R22/R44 at 500ft plus day VMC. He will need to pass the requisite exams and checks before he starts - same as any civil pilot.

Clearly you're a republican; if he were to invest in a little cab to blatt about in doubtless you and your mates would sneer at the rich bloke flying his helicopter about avoiding all the poor people in their cars....he can't win with people of your ilk. The fact that he has given more than many of his future subjects, and will provide a valuable service ( and raise public awareness of the role) as a HEMS pilot is to be applauded.

I'm more than happy to help explain any of the technicalities via PM.

[Buccdriver]

Totally Agree Smugger. Bill seems to be an all round good Egg despite the vultures of the press

[Typhoon93]

not sure on how military hours carry over to the civy world but 1300 in the grand scheme of things isn't a lot is it.

No, not when you consider there are guys with 5,000+ hours of flying time under their belt. However, he has earned his Officer insignia, he has earned his Wings, he has earned every qualification he has got. The Royals most certainly don't get it all on a plate, particularly in the military. It would seem that the Queen is actually very strict. Charles is a failed fast jet pilot for one. Do you think he would have failed if he got everything on a plate?

[Whenurhappy]

F4TCT,

By your own admission you are not an aviator, nor in the 'military' and clearly no fan of the Royal Family - and of a young man who has achieved an awful lot through his own sheer hard work, in spite of his upbringing. So I'm curious why you are bothering to venture an uninformed opinion amongst a group of grown-ups who have collective flying hours probably running into 7 figures. Why?

[jayteeto]

Sod all use in the civvy world?? One equals one. You know less than nothing about this subject. A SAR Captain will do just fine in the air ambulance role. Please engage your brain or go away

[Heathrow Harry]

seems a pity he left the military when it could be another 20-30 years before he inherits but I guess the older royals are getting on and for PR purposes the younger ones sell more papers and increase th e"relevance" of The Firm to those under 60.

Better he keeps flying at something useful than let it all go to waste

Bit more disappointed in what Harry is doing TBH

[skua]

You mean creating a triumph like the Invictus Games?

[Typhoon93]

As for Harry, he's done a tour and a half overseas. He's also proven that he can't be on operations without the media dropping him in it. It's too risky for the other guys. I think moving on to a desk job was the best move, not only for him, but the men and women who serve around him. There could have been many casualties in Bastion a couple of years ago, all because the Media can't keep their mouth shut.

[alfred_the_great]

Or because his flying tour was at E2, and thus he has to return to RD (or at least an E1 post) in order to maintain some kind of a career.

[nutnurse]

It appears that these days Capt. Wales prefers to be addressed as "H", presumably what his HC chums call him, "Harry" (the name his mother gave him) now being family only. Lots of us do that or similar. He recently said that "at this stage of my life" (i.e. he's grown up and knows there's no point in chucking toys out of the pram) he intends to concentrate on using his Royal position in order to help and encourage wounded servicemen and women: "The Americans started it, I stole it, and now it's spread internationally". It seems to be the case that he's discussed this with HM, who is doing everything she can to help.

What's to be disappointed in? At this stage of their careers, most HC officers (or troopers/NCOs for that matter) would be on a two-year donkey-walloping posting at Hyde Park. H is a self-confessed compartmentaliser: "There's my private life, my Army life, and the things I do for my grandmother". Maybe that's the only way of dealing with the absurd goldfish bowl we expect Royals to live in, and of keeping the dreary old fart courtiers off his back. Well done and good luck, say I.

As for Flt Lt (rtd) W, he couldn't have stayed in once the MOD had announced that SAR was to be privatised, he'd have been dragged into a politically contentious matter. Like many ex-RAF, he has found a way of using his Service skills for the benefit of us all. Is this to be denied him and us, leaving him (in the words of the Goat mod. FOMz) "wandering around wondering why the world smells of fresh paint"? Good luck to him as well. :D:D

[alfred_the_great]

He could have transferred to the Dark Blue; found out yesterday that the RN are taking over the SAR TU and maintaining 771 NAS.

(However, William's chronic seasickness might have something to do with his decision making process!)

[nutnurse]

I don't suppose his wife would have allowed him to anyway...

[kintyred]

He hasn't got military experience......he was a SARboy!