Having been on both sides of the fence I have to say that my experience is that the civvie operators are better funded and equipped. They also have a much leaner management structure and are free of the dead hand of IPTs/Air Staff and the colossal "tail" that military SAR is cursed with. As for capability civvies are no less courageous or determined than their military counterparts simply because they don't wear a uniform. When it comes down to it we all do the same job for the same reasons. Have look at these links to see what a civilian organisation can do;
http://www.vtol.org/temp/webrelease14.html
http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/publ...govt/9846.html