when it comes to tasking Torque is essentially correct. On a number of occaisions the Ambulance Service has called for an Air Ambulance because of the need to task an asset within it's timeframe targets laid down by the Government - once an asset tasked job done and nothing more required.
This is the essential difference between the Ambulance Auth's in England and Wales vs Scotland. Scotland has a dedicated Air Desk and they will act notianally as the ARCC would once a helicopter has been scrambled. Thus providing better support to the Air Ambulance and the Casualty etc.
When it comes to tasking of Air Ambulances vs SAR Helos the England and Wales Amb Auth's don't care/know what SAR can do for them - except those in Yorkshire after Leconfield did some excellent liaison work and now the Yorkshire Amb Auths will call Leconfield because they are aware of them and what they can do and how much they cost(Nothing).
Solution: Torque - go to the Newcastle Ambulance Control room and talk to them. In the end any aviation incident should come under the purview of SAR whether anyone likes it or not but after years of having SAR noone in the England and Wales Police, Ambulance authorities know what SAR does until a major city floods and then they come begging for help from someone who speaks helicopter.
Crab - please calm down about the future of SAR. No less capable than current facility and the bidders are well aware of the need for NVG.
Back to the theme of this thread: Glad both guys survived and wish a speedy full recovery and return to work.
Happy New Year