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| Prince William's job: What's it like being an air ambulance pilot? | Prince William's job: What's it like being an air ambulance pilot? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Duke of Cambridge has started his new job as an air ambulance pilot. But what does the job involve and who can do it? | The Duke of Cambridge has started his new job as an air ambulance pilot. But what does the job involve and who can do it? |
| Prince William has joined the ranks of more than 100 air ambulance pilots working across the UK. They come from a range of backgrounds - including commercial pilots, ex-military personnel, as well as the occasional member of the Royal Family. | Prince William has joined the ranks of more than 100 air ambulance pilots working across the UK. They come from a range of backgrounds - including commercial pilots, ex-military personnel, as well as the occasional member of the Royal Family. |
| "Quite a number are from the military," says Clive Dickin, national director of the Association of Air Ambulances. | "Quite a number are from the military," says Clive Dickin, national director of the Association of Air Ambulances. |
| Typically each pilot is required to have at least 1,500 hours flight experience before taking up the post, he says. | Typically each pilot is required to have at least 1,500 hours flight experience before taking up the post, he says. |
| And even the most experienced military pilot needs additional training before being allowed to pilot an air ambulance. | And even the most experienced military pilot needs additional training before being allowed to pilot an air ambulance. |
| "If the pilot has a military pilot's licence then they would need to convert it to a civil pilot's licence," Mr Dickin says. "Then of course they need to be trained on the specific operation of the aircraft." | "If the pilot has a military pilot's licence then they would need to convert it to a civil pilot's licence," Mr Dickin says. "Then of course they need to be trained on the specific operation of the aircraft." |
| The UK's Civil Aviation Authority says it assesses applications for the commercial licence required to fly an air ambulance on a "case by case basis", depending on what qualifications or experience pilots already have. | The UK's Civil Aviation Authority says it assesses applications for the commercial licence required to fly an air ambulance on a "case by case basis", depending on what qualifications or experience pilots already have. |
| Prince William - a former RAF search and rescue pilot - passed his civilian pilot course in September. | Prince William - a former RAF search and rescue pilot - passed his civilian pilot course in September. |
| He then underwent dedicated 999-response training in order to take up his role with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). | He then underwent dedicated 999-response training in order to take up his role with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). |
| To gain this licence the prince had to complete five months' training, followed by 14 exams and a flight test. | To gain this licence the prince had to complete five months' training, followed by 14 exams and a flight test. |
| Pilots are reported to earn about £40,000-a-year. Prince William has already said he will donate his salary - which has not been disclosed - to charity. | Pilots are reported to earn about £40,000-a-year. Prince William has already said he will donate his salary - which has not been disclosed - to charity. |
| According to the EAAA, a typical day for its pilots begins with a detailed check of weather forecasts and by inspecting the helicopter to make sure it is fit to fly. | According to the EAAA, a typical day for its pilots begins with a detailed check of weather forecasts and by inspecting the helicopter to make sure it is fit to fly. |
| The "meticulous" inspection includes examining the engines, rotors and body, as well as inspecting the pipes to ensure there are no leaks. | The "meticulous" inspection includes examining the engines, rotors and body, as well as inspecting the pipes to ensure there are no leaks. |
| The pilot then briefs the team's medical crew on any issues from the weather reports, as well as aviation warnings and any potential problems with helipads at hospitals. | The pilot then briefs the team's medical crew on any issues from the weather reports, as well as aviation warnings and any potential problems with helipads at hospitals. |
| "They will also do planning, such as looking at fuel levels and locations they can refuel at," says Mr Dickin. | "They will also do planning, such as looking at fuel levels and locations they can refuel at," says Mr Dickin. |
| "They do a daily briefing in the morning and they will go through weather, aircraft functions and any other items with the crew. Then of course they fly the missions." | "They do a daily briefing in the morning and they will go through weather, aircraft functions and any other items with the crew. Then of course they fly the missions." |
| 'Airborne in 90 seconds' | 'Airborne in 90 seconds' |
| When a call does come in - and once it's decided the team will be sent to the emergency - the pilot gets the helicopter started and ready to fly. | When a call does come in - and once it's decided the team will be sent to the emergency - the pilot gets the helicopter started and ready to fly. |
| When a call is received by the service the air ambulance team is tasked to attend the emergency - the pilot's job is to get the helicopter started and ready to fly to fly the medical crew to the incident. | When a call is received by the service the air ambulance team is tasked to attend the emergency - the pilot's job is to get the helicopter started and ready to fly to fly the medical crew to the incident. |
| Often aircraft are airborne and en-route to a patient within 90 seconds of a call coming in. | Often aircraft are airborne and en-route to a patient within 90 seconds of a call coming in. |
| Then comes the decision of where to land. | Then comes the decision of where to land. |
| Aircraft often have to land in fields, in the middle of motorways and even in people's back gardens. | Aircraft often have to land in fields, in the middle of motorways and even in people's back gardens. |
| Mr Dickin says pilots can - and occasionally do - offer assistance to the aircraft's medical crew while attending an emergency, though they are not trained in any aspects of the clinical activity. | Mr Dickin says pilots can - and occasionally do - offer assistance to the aircraft's medical crew while attending an emergency, though they are not trained in any aspects of the clinical activity. |
| "They will occasionally assist and help by carrying bags and equipment. They do form a valuable part of the clinical team, but their primary role is making sure the aircraft is safe at all times," he explains. | "They will occasionally assist and help by carrying bags and equipment. They do form a valuable part of the clinical team, but their primary role is making sure the aircraft is safe at all times," he explains. |
| Patients will then be flown to hospital. | Patients will then be flown to hospital. |
| Charity donations | Charity donations |
| Shifts depend on whether or not the aircraft is operational 24-hours a day, but the EAAA says Prince William is likely to work four days on, four days off and cover one of two shifts - from 07:00 to 16:30, or from 16:30 to midnight (royal duties permitting). | Shifts depend on whether or not the aircraft is operational 24-hours a day, but the EAAA says Prince William is likely to work four days on, four days off and cover one of two shifts - from 07:00 to 16:30, or from 16:30 to midnight (royal duties permitting). |
| Pilots work within flight rules, Mr Dickin says, and can only fly for a limited number of hours before requiring a period of leave. | Pilots work within flight rules, Mr Dickin says, and can only fly for a limited number of hours before requiring a period of leave. |
| He says there are now 20 air ambulance charities and one ambulance service, which between them operate 37 aircraft. Each organisation typically has about three pilots for each aircraft. | He says there are now 20 air ambulance charities and one ambulance service, which between them operate 37 aircraft. Each organisation typically has about three pilots for each aircraft. |
| Prince William is one of 86 pilots provided by Bond Air Services, the helicopter operating company that also provides aircraft and ground engineers to many of the air ambulance trusts. | Prince William is one of 86 pilots provided by Bond Air Services, the helicopter operating company that also provides aircraft and ground engineers to many of the air ambulance trusts. |
| The Air Ambulance Association says the cost of running the 20 air ambulance charities is about £120m a year - all of which is raised through donation as there is no central government funding. | The Air Ambulance Association says the cost of running the 20 air ambulance charities is about £120m a year - all of which is raised through donation as there is no central government funding. |
| In 2013 - the latest figures available - the UK's air ambulances flew 14,000 missions up and down the country. | In 2013 - the latest figures available - the UK's air ambulances flew 14,000 missions up and down the country. |
| For an air ambulance pilot, it seems, their job is rarely quiet. | For an air ambulance pilot, it seems, their job is rarely quiet. |