Low level overwater ops--- you seem hung up on the 360 v 120 debate on this...what's your need to know pray tell?
If you are ex-mil then you will be familiar with an IMC let-down. If not, read crabs post. As for the 120 radar in civilian use, then just like the military, the approach is made at an offset angle (say 30-45 degrees) to the coast, accepting the crosswind. (Only a monkey in a gimp mask is going straight into the coast).
This gives a reduced 'escape' heading turn. When within a viable radar range, usually practised to .25nm and backed up by the FLIR operator if possible. Once visual it’s pedal into wind and winch-op con from there.
The current batch of 92/139 radars will hold a picture half as good again. Let’s face it if all the lights/Flir can’t make out anything from the .25nm point and in extremis beyond that then perhaps it is unlucky for those in need.
Wind above 40 kts I hear crab cry? you must back it in like the good ole boys do!
Well, easy as you go! It gets done, has been done and works at 33.3% of all the current UK SAR bases.
PS. For crab; most Civ Sar units have more Captains than the 'beloved co-jo's' you seem so incredulous about daring to do more than sit on their hands. So it is not a case of ye gad's they let co-jo's do radar talk-downs blah, blah.
Actually it is normal practise for the Captain to be managing the mission wth the co-pilot flying (70% of the time he is also a Captain!). The evolutions like these are practised by all the MCA SAR pilots, black art solved.
