I have to say all this "can the civvies do the job" speak is a bit un-necessary.. do not bristows already fly cover for the coastguard? (although I seem to recall they're not 24 hrs? anyone?) It seems that extending the contract to cover the rest of the UK for all hours is not unreasonable. And everyone knows, in their heart of hearts, that civvy cover will be cheaper and be equally professional (ambulance service seems to do a reasonable job, and the fire chaps also (when they're not on strike!)). It's a shame that it's going out of mil hands, but hopefully the new guys will do a good job, and the resources and experience freed up dumped into some kind of csar effort (pipe dream!)...
Osprey by the way
