John Stillwell/PAPrince William's got a new job!
Kate Middleton's hubby is becoming a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance, the palace announced Thursday. He must complete a mandatory training period this fall and winter, and in spring 2015, he will start as a co-pilot. After another period of training, William will be qualified to fly as a helicopter commander.
As a formal employee of Bond Air Services, Prince George's dad will make a salary which he will donate "in full" to charity, the palace said.
It was just last September that William left the Royal Air Force to focus full-time on his royal duties and charity work. While this new pilot's job will be his "primary occupation," his work schedule "will take into account the duties and responsibilities he will continue to undertake on behalf of The Queen, both in the United Kingdom and overseas," said the palace. So, when William begins training for his Air Transport Pilot's License (Helicopter) this September (which is expected to take at least five months to complete), he'll still be able to tend to royal engagements and keep up his role as patron in numerous charitable organizations.
Training sounds pretty tough,too! It includes 14 examinations and a flight test.
The Duke of Cambridge has great experience to build on, though. Previously, he served for seven years as a search and rescue pilot for the Royal Air Force, where he undertook more than 150 rescue operations.