Prince William to return to work as air ambulance pilot

9 Aug ABC.Net

Britain's Prince William, second in line to the throne, is to become an air ambulance pilot from next year.William, 32, was previously a search and rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force and took part in more than 150 search and rescue operations.After training for his commercial pilot's licence, and if successful, the future king will fly out of Cambridge and Norwich Airports in eastern England for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service.

Starting from next spring, he will fly both day and night shifts, his office said in a statement. Starting as co-pilot, he can qualify as a helicopter commander after a minimum of five months' training, 14 examinations and a flight test.The Prince starts training in September and will sign an employment contract with a civilian employer, Bond Air Services, and become the first senior royal to do so.The Duke of Cambridge, as he is formally titled, will draw a salary, which he will donate to charity. He will continue to perform his royal responsibilities.

A spokesman for the Prince says he sees the role as a truthful form of public service.A healthy octogenarian monarch, and a father who has spent most of his life waiting, have enabled William to once again find a service and loosen the ties of his royal straight jacket.A spokesman says the duke is "hugely excited and motivated" by the job.In an interview with CNN last August, shortly after the birth of his first child, Prince George with wife Kate, William said that although fatherhood had been an emotional experience, he was excited about returning to work.ÓAs a few fathers might know, I'm actually quite looking forward to going back to work. I'm just hoping that the first few shifts I go back I don't have any night jobs," he joked.