The MCA unit at Stornoway does fly night mountain taskings has always done so, just like the pre NVG days of 819SAR @ Prestwick and Lossie etc. (On a dark Sh1tty night how do the useless NVG's get you there? Back to the good ole days eh!
) Almost all of the MCA crews have been there done that in the Military,
so you can not claim that ONLY the Military crews can do it.
The MCA units also use a safe, common sense training limit based on A/C performance when 'practising' with emergency services i.e MRT members and so yes they will often explain this and decline to 'play' on some occassions. That said, for 'real'; I know that they have also had some well deserved praise for turning up and getting the job done under extreme conditions. Inland taskings are secondary work and sourced via ARCC. When it becomes all part of their remit under SAR(H) then they will do the job just like Crab and his mates.
