It's interesting that the EU Treaty of Rome approach has come up. Also, the approach of the DfT and MCA.
In Sweden, the SMA and Norrlandsflyg situation was largely about the indigenous helicopter market not being big enough. Is the market big enough even in the UK? In this so-called competition, we are left with Bristow and Bond; the usual suspects; and the expectation that the DfT will require a two-contractor solution to provide commercial resilience. In reality, perhaps we're not substantially better off than Sweden.
The MCA won't get any easier to deal with as the years pass. The Weakest Link in this whole matter may appear invulnerable but it is not the case. In a Single Market, what possible reason is there for member states to retain coastguard services? The European Parliament has been asking that question for some time and only intransigence on the part of the Council and Commission has prevented the further development of the EMSA. An empire set to crumble behaves in strange ways.