Boat axis v Aircraft axis??
Angel, very glad you are in one piece.
Changing tack from the debate about appropriate posting.
I'm curious about the reference to "ex-RAF pilots changing from aircraft to boat axis in the middle of a transfer".
If I have understood RAF SAR SOPs correctly, there are circumstances where we would change from boat to aircraft axis during a transfer (but only if we had lost sight, which shouldn't happen in a properly-planned evolution), but I can't see why we would do it the other way round. I am aware that the RAF use of boat axis, for standard decks only, is unusual (though not unique worldwide), but it does seem to work.
There may be a good learning point here. Are you and / or Mountainman able to share your view in more detail?
Sven