This subject has been done to bits but...
I'm a stated advocate of the current SAR arrangement, but 2 points above are well made.
Namely, SAR Bloke's comments that the civ's are often more experienced than the mil (natch - coz they're almost all ex-mil). Secondly that whoever runs the contract ain't gonna be taking some R22 jock with 150hrs.
My issue is merely that it's inevitable that the experience levels will drop in due course, once the ex-mils have withered on the vine. A pedigree civvy pilot cannot, with the best will in the world, have the depth of experience a mil driver could have. At that point the quality of service will drop. However, whether that means much is the question. Any service is better than none.
Before too many civ's start trying to nail me to the cross, I fully acknowledge that there are many excellent civ drivers out there, often doing some very crunchy stuff, in physical and commercial conditions that would make us military types wince.