Does this mean Wills will end up flying smaller choppers? Does this mean a need for a career change?  The end of RAF commitment?  Time to settle into kinghood? Finally marry Kate, anyone?

Prince William’s dream of building a career flying RAF Sea King helicopters could be in jeopardy because of privatization.

After 18 months of training in Sea King helicopters, William will be a fully qualifed chopper pilot by next June. He is due to join Search and Rescue after a 3-month tour of duty in the Falklands.  But to cut defence costs, the service is to be given to a private contractor.

The MoD said that the new contract would mean that only a “proportion” of military aircrew will be retained alongside civilian pilots.  It is still unknown what that proportion of military to ­civilian personnel will be until a contractor has finally been chosen.  The service will be scaled back at 3 out of 12 UK bases from 2012, which could scupper Wills’ plan to serve in the SAR until 2013.

A senior officer said: “I regret to say that it appears that Prince William will be among the first victims of the defence cuts. We hope to get him to the Falklands but the transfer to civilian contractors will impact on the appointments and we are unclear if we can ask HRH to fly a civvy cab with an RAF sticker on it. It is a terrible situation and nobody is happy. Sadly for the Palace, William will ensure that the demise of the service will get wide coverage. He will complete his course but may ultimately end up with nothing to fly.”

Article: The Express

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