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Prince William begins East Anglian Air Ambulance job | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Duke of Cambridge has admitted he is "feeling the nerves" as he begins his new job as an air ambulance pilot. | |
Prince William did a civilian pilot course in September before undergoing dedicated 999-response training in order to take up the role with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). | Prince William did a civilian pilot course in September before undergoing dedicated 999-response training in order to take up the role with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). |
The former RAF helicopter pilot will cover Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. | |
His first shift began at Cambridge Airport at 07:00 BST. | |
The prince's first shift will be nine-and-a-half hours long as part of a four days on, four days off rota. | |
'Wet day' | |
He said: "It's my first day and I'm feeling the nerves. | |
"We're starting off on a wet Cambridge day, but I'm really looking forward to getting started. | |
"It's been a lot of effort and patience in training but we're here now and I'm looking forward to doing the job." | |
Working as a co-pilot alongside a team of medics will be Prince William's main job, but his roster will take into account his royal duties. | |
The prince is employed by Bond Air Services which operates the air ambulance on behalf of the charity and will be paid a salary which he is donating to charity. | |
Speaking when the appointment was announced, EAAA chief executive Patrick Peal said the organisation, which needs to to raise £7.5m a year to continue its work, would benefit both from William's skills as a pilot and from a boost to the charity's profile. | Speaking when the appointment was announced, EAAA chief executive Patrick Peal said the organisation, which needs to to raise £7.5m a year to continue its work, would benefit both from William's skills as a pilot and from a boost to the charity's profile. |
"We're looking forward to him being part of the team," he said. | "We're looking forward to him being part of the team," he said. |
"It is a very close-knit crew with the pilot operating closely with the doctor and paramedic so we need a strong team in every operation we go on." | "It is a very close-knit crew with the pilot operating closely with the doctor and paramedic so we need a strong team in every operation we go on." |
Following the birth of Princess Charlotte in May, the prince and his family have spent much of their time at their home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. | Following the birth of Princess Charlotte in May, the prince and his family have spent much of their time at their home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. |