How's the relationship between SAR and local Ambulance Services these days?
As I recall there used to be "cross training" between the two services where winchmen could get their "numbers up" on a few paramedic procedures by working some shifts out the back of ambulances and in return civvie paramedics gained some "air-time".
My point is:
On top of initial aircrew/winch training (how long is that?), how much "on the job" experience would be required to make an already experienced paramedic a competent winchman? Weeks? Months? Years?
Also, is the paramedic training included in the aircrew training or is it seperate and what time is allocated to each? As this may reflect the importance placed on each skill in SAR.
As a civilian trained paramedic and pilot myself I am curious to find out more about the military side of these professions and then I may be able to provide a contribution to this thread from the non SAR paramedic point of view.