TOTD - I haven't said anywhere that SAR is going to hell in a handcart - to my knowledge, Bristow have a series of contingency plans to cover such eventualities as the 189 not getting SAR certification on time.
I know they had to prove to DfT that they could provide the service even if things went wrong.
However, I'm not surprised that there are teething problems and I am sure they will be overcome - but I do hope the MCA are honest about any shortfalls or reduction in capability during the transition.
We all know that eventually the SAR service will be very good but a lot of 'smoke and mirrors' has been used to gloss over the tricky bit in the middle when an ounce of honesty would go a lot further to assuaging onlookers' worries.
PS, I don't think overtime is much of an option when the European working time directive is taken into account.