JimL, as usual you hit the nail!
It can be done anytime and anywhere in JAA land, it`s only a matter of sense and costs. The ratio between saved lifes or healths and costs. This is only a question to the operator. We are not talking about SAR in ICAO rules, we are talking about winches for AA. There are civil AA helicopters with winches or shorthaul possibilities at least in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Czech Rep., Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Portugal and may be there are some more.
TC, i would advice to inform before talking about "paramilitaries". I know you are living on an island, but itīs all JAA country, and the operators holding AOC`s according to JAR OPS 3. Only the police units have their own (better) rules.
Flaxton, check your possibilities and your needs, make a decision and go ahead. If you need expert help contact IKAR or LAR Luxembourg Air Rescue, also safe in the air with MD 902 with winches regularly used.
Last edited by tecpilot; 10th Feb 2008 at 20:17.