William asked by Queen to stop helicopter flying

[aliceca]

According to The Sun. www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/17082002/queen-prince-william-to-stop-flying-helicopter-fears-crash/

No not because she is worried about the environmental impacts, or even the optics of the environmental impact. But because she fears a crash that could kill William, Kate and George,
The article specifically mentions helicopter flights between Anmer Hall and Kensington Palace.

It is not different. Non-commercial helicopter pilots are at risk.

I didn’t realise that William was flying them himself.

William drives himself, there have been loads of photos of him at the wheel.

@vastgrandupgrade that surprises me. A chauffeur would be safer.

@aliceca

This just confirms what some were saying about how hypocritical it is for William to fly by helicopter a lot and speak out about the environment.

I remember when the Queen Mother died. Charles and William flew together to be with the Queen. It was against protocol and made the news because of that fact, but that was 20+years ago.

@PartyPrawnRingGames

She also suggested that Andrew should travel by helicopter way more often and bring Fergie.

I bet she did

Surely it's because non-commercial pilots are less well trained? Whereas William is highly trained and has worked as a helicopter pilot.

I think the queen is correct, can you imagine the awfulness of a king harry and queen Megan?

@aliceca

It is not different. Non-commercial helicopter pilots are at risk.

You think that William is less trained as a military search and rescue pilot? Really?

@PartyPrawnRingGames

She also suggested that Andrew should travel by helicopter way more often and bring Fergie.

@PartyPrawnRingGames partly, but a lot of it is to do with experience. Same as people who drive a car for a living have far fewer accidents. The more you do something, the better your skills.

Prince William frequently drives himself and his family. He doesn’t necessarily have a chauffeur. I’ve always liked that he was a search and rescue pilot too. I think it was a suitable job for him. If the Dutch King (actual monarch) can work for KLM as a pilot then it’s a pity he can’t keep his license when he’s further from the throne. Good role model to his children to not solely be cutting ribbons and be filmed asking nice open questions of hardworking people in charities. Not all of his children will be working royals. I don’t blame the Queen for being worried as she’s only human but it’s one of the few really genuinely useful things he has done. I don’t have an opinion on him flying the whole family back and forth from Norfolk to London. I don’t know enough about it or the reason for it (security / laziness / squeezing in engagements / making time for family / born a Prince so thinks might as well use the perks and my license).

@aliceca

According to The Sun. www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/17082002/queen-prince-william-to-stop-flying-helicopter-fears-crash/

No not because she is worried about the environmental impacts, or even the optics of the environmental impact. But because she fears a crash that could kill William, Kate and George,
The article specifically mentions helicopter flights between Anmer Hall and Kensington Palace.

Is it not hypocritical of the Queen (if she indeed ever said this) given that she has been flying by helicopter recently between Sandringham and Windsor?

@wanttomarryamillionaire

I think the queen is correct, can you imagine the awfulness of a king harry and queen Megan?

No.

Or King Andrew the first?

I was surprised that she felt the need to tell him tbh because like a PP I thought they tended not to travel together. Maybe William thought it was ok because he was third in line but now that HMQ is getting older, she wants him to be more responsible. As PPs have said, when you consider the line of succession, it makes sense for the Cambridges to travel separately.
I'm not sure OP's stats/articles are relevant when they don't seem to include professional pilots flying for personal use. But, then again, OP seems to be looking for their usual bunfight. Have Christmas off, OP. You'll feel happier for it and you can stir the Royal pot again in the New Year.

Having a chauffeur didn’t work out for his mother. Maybe that’s why he’s a bit paranoid. Likes to be in control.

[quote aliceca]@PartyPrawnRingGames partly, but a lot of it is to do with experience. Same as people who drive a car for a living have far fewer accidents. The more you do something, the better your skills.[/quote]
So you would think that a person with years of experience as a RAF search and rescue pilot and as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglia Air Ambulance service would be among the safest ... like Prince William!

@rrhuth

This seems odd because as we know the RF are put there by god, and so if god deemed that the Cambridges should not be on the throne, it would be entirely right for whoever was next to be on the throne instead.

We should not stand in the way of the divine's right to choose the next ruler. The Queen may be overstepping here.

If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings. God didn't invent helicopters or pilots - people did. And people are fallible.

She used to allow him but obviously now she's worried if her and Charles die they need William and George

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Having a chauffeur didn’t work out for his mother. Maybe that’s why he’s a bit paranoid. Likes to be in control.

Really not comparable and a bit of a tacky comment.

@allthatsallineed - If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings. God didn't invent helicopters or pilots - people did. And people are fallible

So you walk everywhere then?

Because God didn't invent cars, busses, trains, bikes, boats, roller skates or skis either

@aliceca - Really not comparable and a bit of a tacky comment

Well if we ignore Diana - the Royals are more vulnerable in the car and stuck in traffic. Remember Princess Anne being attacked by a gunman when stopped in traffic and Charles and Camilla's chauffeur driven car attacked by protesters a few years ago

William did fly for air ambulance, but he flew far fewer hours than your average working pilot, so he wouldn't have gained the level of experience they have.