PhamousPhotographer - do remember that the Aldergrove Wessex was on RS60 so once the call had come in, it would have probably been a bit longer than 20 minutes before they were on scene.
Yes; on paper it was RS60 – in practice the ‘A’Flt SAR crews were on immediate standby and could be airborne in less than 10. I personally witnessed this once in January 2001 when they received a call to a capsized fishing boat in Carlingford Lough. “Well-oiled-machine” is a clichéd term, but it describes how both air and groundcrew performed their tasks. Rotors running within seconds and in just less than eight minutes they’d lifted from Aldergrove dispersal.
Whilst 72 were a SH squadron, they had a four man crew, doctor (when possible) and a dedicated SAR role-fitted cab (including hoist, stretchers, heart-start, oxygen etc) on standby during daylight-hours. The SAR duty was performed as efficiently as their bright yellow-liveried mainland-based Sea King brethren who provided the Province’s night cover. Many lives are known to have been saved by the 72 SAR cab - how we’ve regressed in the past decade.
The real problem is idiots who insist on walking on ice despite regular, well-publicised occurrences like this one.
And what cover do fishermen, hill walkers, cross-channel ferries et al have?
Well maybe it's time to have a fresh look at UK SAR.
Spot-on TOTD. If the UK is going to retain a viable SAR service, organise and resource it properly.