Konings flight! HRH the Pilot

[VMax1700]

Interesting newsy bit about King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands being an occasional 'guest pilot' on KLM Cityhopper flights!

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/05/18/dutch-king-klm-pilot/

 

What chance he might take a turn at skippering a HAL ship? Or, maybe, Queen Maxima would like to be compere a Culinary Arts session :hearteyes:

[ski ww]

Read the article in our local paper, very interesting. John Travolta does the same on Australia's national air line, or did not sure if he does any more.

Allan

[take us away]

Interesting newsy bit about King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands being an occasional 'guest pilot' on KLM Cityhopper flights!

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/05/18/dutch-king-klm-pilot/

 

What chance he might take a turn at skippering a HAL ship? Or, maybe, Queen Maxima would like to be compere a Culinary Arts session :hearteyes:

Understand that he is a certified commercial pilot and has been doing this for something like 20 years. Doubt he would ever be more than a 'guest' on the bridge.

[Despegue]

The King of The Netherlands has indeed passed the selection process of the KLM Flight Academy after he graduated from High school

He studied together with the other Cadets, got baptized etc...

He graduated with the rest of his Class ( albeit with some extra tuturing and help;) ).

 

He then trained further to he "type-rated" on Fokker 70/100 , which is also the type of aircraft used for Government VIP flights.

This rating was also undertaken by KLM and he has indeed been flying " on the line" as a First Officer ( he never made it to Captain) with KLM Cityhopper for many years. KLM ( and other pilots going through the Schiphol Crew Centre) see him fairly often in his KLM Uniform. He acts just like any other colleague.

 

He is now undergoing traning to fly the B737NG, which will replace the current VIP Jet of the Netherlands Government. This training will take a couple of months and is very intensive.

 

John Travolta has NEVER flown a commercial flights with Qantas by the way. He did get a type-rating as First Officer on both B707 and B747 through them.

 

Bruce Dickinson, the lead-singer of Iron Maiden is an experienced Captain with over 29 years of flight experience, including Instructor and examiner. in his real life ( he considers Pilot as his passion and primary occupation, singing is extra)

He currently flies B747-400 as Captain and is a colleague 😎

[*Miss G*]

Bruce Dickinson, the lead-singer of Iron Maiden is an experienced Captain with over 29 years of flight experience, including Instructor and examiner. in his real life ( he considers Pilot as his passion and primary occupation, singing is extra)

He currently flies B747-400 as Captain and is a colleague 😎

I was watching Airport: Below Zero and found that out! One of the episodes featured their arrival. Found that very interesting. Did I see you too?

[Despegue]

Haha...I was not on that flight...

[jakkojakko]

.

This rating was also undertaken by KLM and he has indeed been flying " on the line" as a First Officer ( he never made it to captain) with KLM Cityhopper for many years. KLM ( and other pilots going through the Schiphol Crew Centre) see him fairly often in his KLM Uniform. He acts just like any other colleague.

 

My bold.

 

This sounds rather negative. Isn't it the case that being a "guest" pilot, like ivw pilots, he never is elligable to become captain and that it has nothing to do with capabilities?

 

I fully concur with the rest of your comments and have seen him many times in the "bemanningencentrum"

[Despegue]

JakoJakko,

 

Not at all meant in a negative way

There are many reasons why pilots do not make it to Captain in their career.

 

King Willem Alexander or Willem is a very good Airman as far as I have heard, I have never flown with him though but colleagues have.

[jakkojakko]

That's what I understood as well. Although a collegue, I also never flew with him.