PRINCE WILLIAM TO BE POSTED TO RAF VALLEY

PRINCE WILLIAM WILL BE POSTED TO RAF VALLEY IN ANGLESEY IF HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES HIS RAF SEARCH AND RESCUE PILOT TRAINING. THE YOUNG PRINCE WILL JOIN 22 SQUADRON AFTER HIS MILITARY STUDIES ARE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL FLY AS A FULLY OPERATIONAL CO-PILOT IN A SEA KING 3A HELICOPTER. ST JAMES' PALACE SAID IN A STATEMENT: 'THE ROYAL AIR FORCE'S DECISION TO POST PRINCE WILLIAM TO RAF VALLEY WAS MADE WITH THE RAF'S INTEREST IN MIND, MATCHING PRINCE WILLIAM'S SKILLS TO THE CHALLENGES OF FLYING SORTIES FROM RAF VALLEY. IN PARTICULAR, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS FROM RAF VALLEY OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF CHALLENGING FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND HOSTILE SEAS SUPPORTING BOTH MILITARY OPERATIONS AND CIVILIAN EMERGENCY SERVICES ACROSS THE AREA.' ALL STUDENTS ON PRINCE WILLIAM'S COURSE WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT TWO PREFERENCES FOR THEIR POSTING AND THE ROYAL'S OTHER CHOICE WAS RAF LOSSIEMOUTH IN SCOTLAND. THE DECISION ON WHERE THE SECOND-IN-LINE TO THE THRONE AND HIS COURSE MATES ARE TO BE POSTED WAS TAKEN BY THE RAF CHAIN OF COMMAND, SAID ST JAMES' PALACE. A TYPICAL TOUR FOR A PILOT ON THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCE LASTS FROM 30 TO 36 MONTHS. FLIGHT LIEUTENANT WALES CAN EXPECT TO BE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND OVERALL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER IN THE COMING YEARS, BUT HOW QUICKLY WILL DEPEND ON HIS ABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. WILLIAM COULD FIND HIMSELF FLYING RESCUE MISSIONS TO NORTHERN IRELAND AS RAF VALLEY IN NORTH WALES ROUTINELY RESPONDS TO CALLS FROM ULSTER. A ST JAMES' PALACE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE PRINCE WILL GO WHEREVER HE IS ASKED TO DEPLOY IN THE UK INCLUDING NORTHERN IRELAND.'