3 pennethworth:
Emergency services to adapt/adopt to SAR would require a massive cash injection direct from the government to give it half a chance of working. It would also take us away from our core business which is onshore! As much as I would like to cover coastal SAR - deep water SAR is a completely different league. All emergency service a/c can/do carry out onshore SAR - it just isn't referred to in that way.
Civvy specialist contractors is the way to go for obvious reasons, should the tide turn! [CHC is the future from what I observe - ooops sorry!].
Be very very aware those 'civvy' operators who operate under the 'devil may care' rule book when there is a perceived threat to life. The rule book most certainly does not go out of the window - especially in these days of burgeoning bureaucratic surpression and more effectively: LITIGATION.
Cast off your regs at your peril.
I would imagine very large civvy companies lobbying the government more and more especially at the demise of the might queen of the skies (S61/Seaking). Makes sense from a government perspective.
Respect to all SAR crew.