I have to agree with Leopold. The MOD retaining a SAR force is too costly, inefficient and because of the immense and complex way the MOD does its business military SAR is untenable. For instance.
Lee on Solent operate a civilian SAR helicopter doing a very good job. They operate
1 aircraft
9 aircrew
6 engineers.
771 sqdn here in Culdrose also do a very good job..
They operate
5 Aircraft
30 pilots
18 aircrewmen
4 SAR divers
8 RNR pilots
5 RNR Observers
6 RNR aircrewmen
4 Engineering Officers (nearly 1 per aircraft)
136 engineers
6 RNR engineers
Try and justify that to the treasury.