Most of the RAF rearcrew were a minimum of Sgt and many were FSgt or MACr - that would give a pay range (including flying pay) of mid to top 40K to well over 50K. ISTR the starting salary for Bristow was 35K with some additional paramedic pay.
Considering the rearcrew are the ones who get their hands dirty and are at the risky business end of SAR, I have always thought that level of remuneration derisory and could only have been approved by ex-pilots - the SAR Captain salary was circa £95K which was a big step up for many leaving the RAF who were Sqn Ldr or Flt Lt on between 60K and 70K. The claim they had to offer parity with N Sea pay was cobblers.
The degree requirement has reduced the numbers of nurses going into the profession and will probably do the same for paramedics since the pay doesn't reflect the post-graduate earning capability one might expect.
I wouldn't be surprised if Bristow try desperately to undercut all the other bidders in the SAR 2G competition, they know they can rely on Ch 11 bankruptcy in the US to resolve any shortfall in cashflow once the contract is won.