tigerfish - "Sadly air support is now seen as just another resource" - yes, but 20 years ago the industry was desparately trying to get air support accepted as resource... So has the past efforts come round to bite us on the bottom? I think you would rather it was accepted and have to justify its existence,than trying to get it accepted - at least you have evidence behind you on what has been achieved.
I would suspect it's actually the lower-hour units that are looking over their shoulder. Sussex at 500 hrs pa is one that springs to mind (and some of that is EMS work...) - perhaps the Surrey EC135 will move to Dunsfold to cover both counties?