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Prince William gets new job, training to be ambulance helicopter pilot

Prince William, photographed here in June 2012 during his stint with the Royal Air Force, will train to become a emergency helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
(SAC Faye Storer / Associated Press)
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Call him William, Prince William.

The duke of Cambridge has a new job, and it’s kind of awesome. The second in line to the British throne will become a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, the monarchy announced Thursday.

And the name of the company that will employ the future monarch? Bond Air Services.

OK, it has nothing to do with 007 or spy thrillers, but we do love a good British mash-up.

William, 32, will have mandatory training that starts in September and will last through the winter. (His wife, the former Kate Middleton, reportedly will tour Malta, her first solo trip, in September too.) During that time, William will obtain his air transport pilot’s license (helicopter), and the five-month training process “will culminate in 14 examinations and a flight test,” the palace said.

In the spring, he’ll start flying both day and night shifts between Cambridge and Norwich airports. He’ll start as a copilot, then work to qualify as a helicopter commander.

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The EAAA provides pre-hospital emergency medical care at the scene of accidents and medical emergencies across the region, according to the organization.

“Having the Duke of Cambridge as one of our pilots is marvelous news as he brings much experience to the charity after his successful career as a search and rescue pilot,” said Andrew Egerton Smith, EAAA chairman, in a statement. “We have an outstanding track record of attending people in the hour of need which is recognized and generously supported by our local communities.”

The palace said Wills will be donating his full salary to charity.

The duke began training and became a search and rescue pilot in the Royal Air Force in January 2009. After training, he was based in at RAF Valley between January 2010 and September 2013 as Flight Lieutenant Wales. In June 2012, he became a helicopter captain.

Wills left 7 1/2 years of active military service in September 2013 to focus on his royal duties. In January 2014, he enrolled in a 10-week executive education program in sustainability leadership at Cambridge University.

Prince George’s dad will be doing all this while still carrying out his royal obligations and charity work.

“The Duke will continue to undertake engagements on behalf of the Queen and his charitable affiliations during this time,” the palace said.

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Fine, call him the Pilot Prince. Whatever. Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.

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