Crab.
That is slanderous!!
We
always tell the M.C.A. if/when we are off line and to suggest otherwise is not doing you or the RAF any favours at all!! Nor the casualty waiting for help!
The more flying bit I will not argue with but, as we have done it to death on other threads, that is a contractual thing, not choice. We would love to have the hours that you guys have available!
By seconds I presume you mean the Stand by aircraft, not the main duty machine? Again, going over old ground, but for the benefit of newcomers and with apologies to those who have read this before, this is also a contractual thing. If the M.C.A. want more crews then they ask for them as part of the contract.
By the way, as part of the non event in East Anglia last week, Portland became a 24hr. unit!! Only for a couple of days but carried out with existing crews and could not have been maintained indefinitely but where there's a will. etc etc.