Not everything is about aircrew. Not all SAR is about helicopters.
The A in ARCCK is for Aeronautical! So in this context it is all about helicopters since we don't have any other airborne assets - and who knows best how to operate helicopters? oh yes...aircrew
Geoffers - would you like to go back to the NHS and ambulance services of the 60s? I am often the one accused of living in the past! Progress and an increase in capability is often hard won and the harsh fact that many won't acknowledge is that the RAF have taken the professionalism and true (rather than assumed) capability to a level that should not be allowed to slip.
Contractorisation is a fact of life with SAR, I fully accept that but not if it is simply an excuse to make money out of providing a lesser capability which won't get questioned because so few of either the politicians or the public actually understand what they are talking about with SAR.
It would only take one inquest into a major SAROP where people died to show limitations of capability and highlight if corners had been cut to get the service established within budget.
The 139 is selling like hot cakes but it is what they have available rather than the best tool for the job - a 139 with a bigger cabin would sell just as well but be far more useful.