US Navy coastguard uses C-130s for long range SAR.
What asset has provided long range SAR cover in the Falklands for the past 25 years......?
Yes, the boys at Lyneham aren't as experienced at SAR as the ISK mafia, but rest assured they will do their best, and they can outrun a Sea King - JUST.....
In my day we used to do live ASR drops off the south coast before deploying to the Falklands, I don't know if that is still the case. My understanding is that in the Nimrod fleet most people (Navs?) who have dropped an ASR set have done so by mistake.......
Still, levity aside, sad to hear of the state of affairs at ISK, I'm sure things will improve when the MRA4 arrives (sorry - back to levity again!)......
