Mountain rescue role for William

Published on Friday 11 December 2009 21:42

PRINCE William will be taking to the skies as a mountain rescuer after he completes his advanced helicopter training course this week, St James's Palace confirmed last night.

The prince, 27, has a self-confessed love of flying, and RAF mountain rescue is his best opportunity to serve operationally, as a posting to Afghanistan is considered too dangerous for the heir to the throne.

In the new year he will move to RAF Valley on Anglesey, Wales, where he will be taught to use his new skills to fly Sea King helicopters. He could then be posted to any of the RAF's mountain rescue centres, including those serving the Scottish Highlands.

He will learn to manoeuvre the aircraft so eventually he will be able to rescue stricken mountaineers or exhausted swimmers even in treacherous conditions.

Prince William is following in the footsteps of his father, the Prince of Wales, who served as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot, as did his uncle, the Duke of York, a Sea King helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War.