PRINCE William has praised the “extraordinary professionalism” and “commitment” of the Channel Islands Air Search.
In a letter sent from Kensington Palace, the royal wrote that it was “amazing” what the search-and-rescue organisation “collectively achieves each year”.
He added: “I know that each of you will have had personal experiences that stay with you no matter the number of rescues or hours spent flying.”
The Prince of Wales worked as an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance from March 2015 to July 2017, working as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey before that. He previously described feeling “privileged” to be involved with the air ambulance service.
The Channel Islands Air Search shared the letter on social media and said: “We are truly honoured to receive a letter from Prince William.
“Supporting the search and rescue community is at the core of everything we do.”
The Channel Islands Air Search is a voluntary service operating in local waters all year round.
Its latest annual report revealed that Channel Islands Air Search responded to twice as many call-outs in 2024 than in 2023.
The charity was called upon 32 times last year – an average of one call-out every 11.4 days and an increase from the 16 call-outs recorded the year before.
Of those 32 calls, the crew were stood down before take-off on eight occasions, where the casualty had already been located.
The crew also took part in 56 flight exercises, monthly ground training sessions and a number of fundraising events and presentations.
Notable call-outs last year included assisting search efforts for a woman who died after going overboard from a cruise ship near Alderney, locating a missing solo sailor who was towed back to Jersey by the RNLI, and helping the Guernsey Police to find a missing person on the island’s north coast.
The 20-strong Channel Islands Air Search crew includes pilots, search directors and observers – all volunteers – who collectively gave over 2,050 hours of voluntary service during the year.
However, the annual report also highlighted that fundraising “remains a challenge” for the charity.
“Fundraising remains a challenge as there is a trend for large corporate donations to be steered towards wellbeing and sustainability projects, as well as those suffering from the cost-of-living crisis rather than running costs for charities such as ours,” it said.
“Annual running costs are now in the region of £300,000 per annum, and the efforts of David Hugo and his team of fundraisers in Guernsey, and the recently revitalised Jersey fundraising team are vital and very much appreciated by the crew and trustees.
“The Lions Clubs of Guernsey and Jersey continue to provide valuable financial support, and in 2024, five new survival suits were donated, costing in the region of £1,600 each.
“Channel Islands Air Search remains extremely grateful to the employers of its crew members for allowing them to leave work and respond to emergency call-outs. Without that support, the service would simply not be able to operate.”
