I have a number of reservations about SAR ops being conducted by a comercial operator. The Operator will always have a duty of care for the aircrew and I think it is inevitable that they will not make the extra push we are accustomed to from Mil crews. This may or may not be an example of that possibility
BBC Friday, 19 May 2006, 12:21 GMT 13:21 UK
It was deemed "too dangerous" for a winch to be lowered from the Portland Coastguard helicopter.
A Portland Coastguard spokesman said: "There were horrendous conditions which made it very difficult for the our crews. "They are not normally afraid to do what is needed but in this situation we had to take precautions because we do have to think of the safety of the search and rescue teams as well."
The full story is at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4997654.stm
Don't misunderstand me; I am not suggesting that the SAR crew at the time shrank from the task; far from it. I do suspect, though, that commercial and civil liability factors may result in avoidance of risk that wouldn't be a military concern.