Geoffers - on one hand you have said that no-one from the past complained about being rescued or doctored because the technology was of the time and on the other you don't think capability that exists at the moment should be protected and then enhanced in the future.
I completely agree that no-one really cares outside those of us in SAR - the same as no-one really cares about your concerns over pilot quality that you have alluded to on other threads - as long as the job gets done (however badly) the bean counters go away happy and the contract boxes keep getting ticked.
This just isn't sustainable because unless those of us in the know make our concerns loud and clear, the erosion of skill end expertise will continue until it gets so bad that a catastrophe occurs. Then everyone throws their hands in the air wondering how this has happened and the recovery of the capability becomes very expensive.
Internally everyone will do their best but why should they be hamstrung with equipment that is not fit for purpose?
I know you and TC are both ex-RN which may go some way to explain your lack of concern for the working conditions of the rearcrew but DfT will look very stupid when there are a spate of back and knee injuries to SAR rearcrew due to the low cabin ceiling and SAR flts are off state - it is much like the pickle we find ourselves in now because upper management ignored all the warnings they were given about SAR rearcrew manning for many years.