Wiretensioner / Vie...whatever / Lioncopter, you are what we term: bottom feeders: end users who come into work each day, do a solid days work, earn a decent crust and get fed (info) from above, (if they remember) occasionally.
You know very little of what is going on - and to be honest, you are not expected to either.
The water boiler was a side show, bringing in some light relief. But please believe this when I tell you - it serves absolutely NO purpose whatsoever in front line life saving missions. It is a typical RAF bolt on accessory about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Vie: why do you think the RAF are so important as to be the default for SAR advice? The RN were doing SAR before the RAF could spell it
As it happens the work stream for this current SAR project (Long SAR) is driven by a very competent civil servant and a Commodore. The consultancy firm is well versed in SAR doctrine. You MUST give other people credibility and you must aslo accept that perhaps people like you don't know it all. [Because you only operate in a tiny part of the jigsaw]. Civvies around the world have been doing SAR for decades, it is NOT a fine art (as the RAF would like it to be - to justify their empire), it is for most military units throughout the world a SECONDARY ROLE. It is not nuclear science and most of all Civvies do it very very well indeed.
Lioncopter: The CAA have issued NVD certification to several AOC's (The police for instance); they have already formalised applications for SARH NVD Ops. Again, not a difficult evolution and one which future operators will take to overnight.
Try and look at the big picture. Future civvy SAR service isn't going to see massive degradation. It will see change (and for some long in the tooth, has been's) and it will take time. But change it will, adapt it will and develop it will. With better. cheaper, more reliable aircraft. Civilian crews infused with military experience will run the service FAR FAR more effectively and financially more efficiently than any military outfit. Move on guys.
4thright: It is my personal view that the ARCC might eventually be re-located to the MCA HQ @ Southampton (but still retain uniformed personnel).
