Dooh,
I said I wouldn't say anything but.....
This is an area I have looked in to very closely of late - the JAR Ops 3, EASA and CAA. State Aircraft - in which case rules can be CAA. Or, non state aircraft and rules have to be EASA. Now I wasn't looking for AA or Police but for main category SAR aircraft - crab, your job! It looks like that will be EASA. However, I think I remember somewhere in that EU directive that said the CAA [i.e. national authority] could dispensate. However, I think the CAA might have said they will NOT - which is where the confusion creeps in. Will have to look it up when back at work and print the low down.