STANDTO
I'm inclined to think that we will, one day, operate multi-agency coastal ASU's thereby producing the best return on investment and the most efficient coverage by specialist units.
As always, the biggest mountain to climb is persuading all the interested parties that they could, and should, work together for the ultimate benefit of those that pay the bills.
Here, in Sussex, we have 3 full time pilots all SAR qualified operating a non SAR 902 along 42 nm of coastline!
What better than to have all the coastal ASU's operating an EC145/Bell 412, IFR capable, SAR capable, operating a 24hr roster and responding to all calls from all agencies within the designated area.