Then if one has the actual temerity to remind those folks that there is a modern concept called the "Rescue Swimmer" that LEAVES the Winch Wire and goes to the person needing rescue.....well Sir....indeed!
hardly a modern concept SAS - but the RN stopped using divers for SAR a few years ago and went back to using a winchman. Bristow don't use rescue swimmers for UKSAR so I'm not sure what your point is
FNW - I'll bow to your superior knowledge - I will ask more questions about the issues with the MFTS aircraft and winching training.
AC - you would do all of that ground and static winch training as a natural precursor to doing it live on the aircraft but the first time the student winchop does it with a real stretcher and all the associated hazards that provides, you want an instructor looking over his shoulder. Managing a spinning stretcher as you approach the skids is not something you want to learn on the fly.