Guys, just go, make a new life and be happy. After a few years the few will remember 'we used to have a SARF' and muse how it was better but in the long run the
PR argument will always be won by the Reds and glossy magazines, and the FJ/other aircrew fraternity will just have to pay more attention to the Dinghy drills and rely on the RNLI/ International maritime rules. I sympathise because it is a great lifestyle and very challenging but can the service afford that when everyone else across the aviation fleets are working so hard and breaking harmony; I think not. I have never heard any of my SAR rearcrew mates complain about 2 many shifts, overwork etc.
The Govt have effectively (and wrongly) written the SARF off and IMHO not had much resistance from the RAF hierarchy in protecting a part of the RAF that consistently performs above and beyond. If I have offended then I am sorry but you are suffering manning wise no more or less than any other fleet, you just have somewhere to go if you are bold enough to beat the rush and lets face it - you are probably better off in a company (chc) that is on the way up than in a company that is on the way down (RAF).
