I have to ask because you sound like an Army UAV operator who has had great success on Ops in Afghan, desperate to ply his trade in a home environment.
My background is JTAC with Recce units in Afghanistan turned Army RW pilot.
I think we will just end up going round in circles Crab. I have a lot of respect for SAR boys and girls and I do understand your point of view, I’m just trying to put across that UAVs aren’t trying to steal trade off aircrew and are the ginger step kids that actually have something useful to bring to the party and will have more when the tech continues to mature
It will take time to develop the TTPs and confidence (find me a pilot that is comfortable with UAVs knocking about at the same height/area) but I think it will get there.