Everybody needs a hobby, a way to relax and unwind. For the King of the Netherlands, this means taking to the skies. He may be busy being a monarch for over 17 million Dutch citizens and father to three children, but when he needs to unwind, King Willem-Alexander has been known to fly as a guest pilot for commercial airline KLM.
A passion for aviation
It is well-known that King Willem-Alexander was presented with his military pilot's license as a member of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1994. However, many do not know that the King also has his Private Pilot's Licence, Second Class, and Commercial Pilot's Licence (with an Instrument Rating).
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The Dutch King qualified for his private flying license in 1985 and followed it two years later with his commercial license. This allowed him to fly as a volunteer pilot in Kenya first for the medical aid organization African Medical Research & Education Foundation and The Kenya Wildlife Service.
In 1989, he obtained an additional license to fly multi-engine jet aircraft and earned his Airline Transport Pilot Licence in 2001. Before flying commercial flights with KLM, the King flew cargo flights for Dutch airline Martinair.
A fan of the Fokker
In order to maintain his currency and a commercial pilot, His Majesty has flown for the national carrier for over 20 years. For many years, he flew Fokker 70 aircraft for KLM Cityhopper and the government-configured Fokker (registered PH-KBX) until its retirement in 2017. When the airline began to phase out the Fokkers, the King retrained to pilot the newer Boeing 737 aircraft. He qualified in June 2017 and continues to fly the 737 as a guest pilot and co-pilot with the airline.
The official government plane was also upgraded to a Boeing 737-700 business jet, allowing The King to continue flying himself and his family on engagements abroad. The aircraft is registered PH-GOV and features lie-flat seats and a shower. His Majesty has been spotted at the helm of the aircraft on multiple occasions and even flies the aircraft on longer journeys, such as the state visit to the Caribbean earlier this year.
Why flying?
According to The King, his hobby is a perfect escape from royal duties. He is rarely recognized in his KLM uniform and cap as he walks to the aircraft through Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, and the time in the air doubtless provides a welcome distraction from the daily duties of the state. In an interview, King Willem-Alexander explained why flying is a welcome break from his usual routine:
“You have an aircraft, passengers and crew. You have responsibility for them, you can’t take your problems from the ground into the skies. You can completely disengage and concentrate on something else. That, for me, is the most relaxing part of flying.”
His Majesty is not the only member of a royal family to take to the skies. Both of the King of England's sons fly helicopters, with the Prince of Wales serving as an air ambulance pilot in East Anglia for several years. The Sultan of Brunei is known to fly his own aircraft, including the world's only Airbus A340-8000.
Moonlighting in Plain Sight
In addition to his official visits, the King was known to fly regularly scheduled commercial flights. On one occasion, he was even reported to have allowed a stranded passenger to fly in the cockpit when the flight was oversold. While KLM does not reveal which flights he is flying for safety purposes, he has been spotted flying on multiple routes throughout the years.
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He rarely reveals his presence to passengers, so it is possible that some of our readers may have flown with them without even realizing it. In an interview reported by the Washington Post, the King made it clear that he did not mention his name when giving announcements:
“I can always say that I wish everyone a heartfelt welcome in the name of the captain and the crew.
“I don’t have to say my own name. But most of the people don’t listen anyway.”
At one point, the King flew regularly for the airline, at least twice a month. His hobby had become more like a second job (as if being King was not enough).
Have you ever flown with King Willim-Alexander? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Washington Post