Media: the king of the Netherlands secretly piloting passenger planes
King Willem-Alexander sits at the helm of the aircraft on passenger flights KLM Cityhopper twice a month and never does not reveal passengers to his name.
MOSCOW, may 17. /TASS/. The king of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, even after the accession to the throne continued to fly on passenger aircraft as a second pilot. This was reported by broadcasting Corporation Bi-bi-si.
Willem-Alexander, in 1985, received a private pilot license, and in 1987 commercial. The future king has been involved in charity operations for the African medical and research Foundation (AMREF) and wildlife Service nature Kenya. In 2001 he became a licensed air transport pilot. Since that time, regularly flew as a guest pilot on the aircraft of the Dutch company KLM Cityhopper (provides short-haul commercial aircraft).
Thus, according to Bi-bi-si, was not previously known that Willem-Alexander continued to fly passenger planes after ascension to the throne in 2013. It has now turned out that the king sits at the helm of the aircraft on passenger flights KLM Cityhopper twice a month never does not reveal passengers to his name. Besides, as said the monarch, in the uniform it is difficult to learn, but some passengers sometimes recognize his voice.
“The advantage is that I can always have a warm welcome to passengers on behalf of the captain and crew, and I don’t have to call your name” — quotes bi-Bi-si words of Willem-Alexander, who added that he did not intend to refuse from flying and even going to go on courses to learn to operate a Boeing 737.