AA Charities expect all applicants to have all the skills and experience they require (eg HEMS/NVIS/high multi-time). They are not prepared to train or invest in staff. That's the issue. They will reject experienced north sea/VIP/onshore pilots because they don't meet their daft high requirements
AA Charities will invest in multi million pound flashy aircraft and bases etc, but not pilots.
Sure, some
Charities hire new co-pilots, but the pay is pretty bad and there isn't much flying, and progress to command is very very slow, hence a lot move onto the North Sea/abroad.
"hundreds of applicants"? But how many of those are "Qualified and suitable"? Maybe that was years ago. We, as are many other operators, are struggling to get any suitable applicants at the moment. Of those, most are in their mid to late fifties!