35 years in SH/SAR. Still flying within Mil SAR.
The point crab@ is making is that whilst “SAR” can be done more cheaply by civilian contractors the taxpayer will not be getting the same product.
Remember - the Yellow Birds have BOTH P1 and P2 fully trained for NVG operations for that rescue of an injured climber half way up a mountain one stormy night.
They also have a dedicated Radar Operator sat in front of his FLIR and 360 degree radar screens for those occasions when the oil rig is enveloped in fog.
To match that would require training – which isn’t cheap.