Industry Insider beat me to it...PHI, ERA, Air Log, Taylor, Chevron... whoever, have ALWAYS responded to another aircraft in trouble - with not the slightest hesitation. Based on GLS's past posts, he tends to "drift" every now and then. The day someone leaves another in the water without a thought or action is the day I get out of the business.
A quick note on SAR - the Cougar aircraft was brought in by BP after the 92 started flying. In the US (GOM) most SAR is provided by the tried and true Coast Guard - with great results. As explained to ME during "ditching school" given the average water temp of the GOM and the network of the CG stations, plus the operator based flight following - the system worked and was approved by the oil companies. Problem came when the CG aircraft could not "rescue" an entire 92 flight - thus the Cougar 61. Put all the spin you want - the GOM is not the North Sea or the EU. Everything is different - but I do not imply that one area is better than the other - only that it is two different environments.
All the new ELT installs, to include the pilot's vest's are equipped with 406 ELT's and registered under PHI. Don't know why GLS doen't have the 406 ELT.
Just my take....