Blow at RAF Shawbury as training staff axed

The loss of jobs at the Shropshire airbase which trained Princes William and Harry is "a blow" to "the best helicopter training pilots anywhere in the world", officials said today.

FB Heliservices, a defence contractor which has a base at RAF Shawbury, has announced it is making six helicopter training pilots and aircrew compulsorily redundant.

A further two roles are to be axed at RAF Valley on Anglesey, where Prince William is now based as a Flight Lieutenant.

Company director James Goodbourn said the cuts would leave 23 pilots in its employment at RAF Shawbury, in addition to the pilot flying instructors already employed directly by the military.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council member for Shawbury, said he hoped there would be no further job losses at the airbase.

He said: "It's a blow and very unfortunate."