Now come on guys....Bubba Gump Search, Rescue, and Shrimp company does a reasonable job. The got the pilot out of the water and sank the aircraft....saved a life and made it easy for the helicopter company.
What you expect out of the Gulf....professionally trained, equipped SAR helicopters to come fetch you out of the water?
Question.......has the Coast Guard done a SAR mission that resulted in the recovery of survivors by helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico following a downed helicopter event? Ever?
If they are not able to respond in a reasonable time....is there any SAR equipped and trained helicopter(s) to do that mission in the Gulf of Mexico?
If the answer to both questions is "NO".....why is that acceptable to the oil companies and operators in the Gulf of Mexico? If the answer is "NO" to both questions....this might as well be West Africa or someplace off the Atlantic coast of Africa.