Crabette, I quote.
"Ask the question to the current UK S61 operators; how many jobs have they turned down because the trade off between lack of performance and the task (Single engine flyaway V winchman), has not warranted the 'risk' I would guess a hell of a lot more than 'fill me to the brim with foreign seamen' type rescues anyway."
I can assure you that no S61 crew has ever turned down a SAR tasking. Even though your biased 'crab' attitude would like us to believe otherwise.
SASless;
You are quite correct, a jetranger could cope with the average load. But the Coastguard requirement is for a helicopter of 12 pax plus, just in case. Sumburgh picked up 35 from the MV Lunahod.