Ignore the sideways comments. I'm in SAR and facing the current transition towards the 139, assuming they take us. There is much rumour and speculation about this aircraft mainly because I think crews have misgivings about whether it can fulfill the role expected of it. After the recent boink of two container ships in the channel and subsequent successful S61 mission, the subject of an yet another ineviteble cruise/passenger ferry disaster has raised its head with the MCA/DTI. CofG, ground clearance, icing clearance, rotor start up and shutdown, where all the gear's going to go aside. Is it big and ugly enough to do the job? Never send a poodle to do a pit bull's job.
