Interesting news indeed, that poses a few quandries for those awarding contracts.
Who flies the commercial routes for BP/Amoco nowadays? Bond/Scotia.
Who has a less than enviable track record in Ireland with SAR? Bond/Scotia (advertising for winch ops by the way)
Who has a fine and long standing reputation with civil SAR? BHL.
Who (possibly!) has a surplus of AS332s and could be in a position to rapidly take on this contract? BHL.
I wouldn't like to bet on it but.....
To add to the above debate on heroic seat of the pants, "when I was a Wessex pinger" type remarks; I think that nice Mr Newmark, in hand with Monsieur SFIM, may assist in some capacity to prevent those inexperienced North Sea civvie types from hitting the wet stuff.
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Another day in paradise
[This message has been edited by 212man (edited 29 May 2000).]