You're being a little optimistic there Spanish Waltzer. If a central training school is unnecessary, why did Soteria have it in their plans?
From the look of it, co-pilots won't require previous SAR experience and the winchman a minimal amount. Merely converting to aircraft type isn't sufficient to prepare an individual for what is required on a SAR shift. For that you need a conversion course and dedicated hours doing specific flying and sortie management exercises. The inevitable turnover of staff through retirements, injuries and job changes at ten different flights would ensure there is always a requirement for a conversion course for newcomers and as we all know, the drip feed of experienced SAR operators from the military will soon dry up once the military relinquish the task. Providing sufficiently standardised SAR training locally doesn't sound possible unless it is provided by a mobile training team who ensure that all are taught identically and trying to achieve that futher robs hours from the existing crews who, as has been discussed, will be surviving on the bare minimum of hours.
Last edited by Vie sans frontieres; 29th Dec 2012 at 22:32.