Originally Posted by
Vie sans frontieres
... if by some miracle they do manage to squeeze six into the back of the 189 and all six need to be winched down ...
This is an sixteen seat aircraft with options for eighteen or twelve seats. It is expected that there will be eight crashproof utility seats, plenty floor space and two crew belts in the UK SAR version.
"All On State Airborne Systems must be capable of deploying from or retrieving to the Aircraft an MRT Standard Load in a single trip and from the air or on the ground."
"All On State Airborne Systems must be capable of retaining the Hover .. outside of Ground Effect whilst delivering an MRT Standard Load at or below 4000ft amsl at ISA +15 degrees centigrade in still air; and .. with 30 minutes SAR Endurance remaining, at the location of any SAR Incident in the Mountainous Regions of the UK SRR."
"MRT Standard Load" means a team comprising of six members at 80kg each, plus 25kg for hill bags."
Estimates by experienced SAR personnel who have flown this aircraft suggest it will be able to deliver significantly more than contractually required.
Two crew on belts and all seats occupied by MRT (sound familiar) provides for a means of achieving this. The regulator has already introduced the idea of operating for SAR with "Passengers not secured in seats".
Do try to keep up mate.