you still need a multi TP to fly the tight search and drop patterns
Tell that to the Japanese (GV & F900), Koreans (CL604), French (F50), Americans (P8 & Falcon). Plenty of people out there operating drop capable jets.
Lets see what happens next, there are capable operators with capable platforms. AMSA ran the Jet flag up the pole as far back as 2011 with the knowledge that the Doorknob had its limits and relying on Ronnie RAAF for the extreme range SAR coverage was not a permanent option.
The tenders were all in well before MH370 proved the theory, the Japanese GV demonstrated the capability on a live op and AMSA creamed their jeans with what a jet could do for range, endurance, response time, payload over and above their existing capability.
Personally I reckon they are hanging for any news from the Fugro ships out there now before they make a public announcement as to who won and why.
