Anyone over-flying a mountain area or harbour that sees someone below spitting feathers, that's a mountain rescue or
independent lifeboat treasurer who has had to listen to somebody talking about charity air ambulance finance!
While air ambulance charities swallow up huge amounts from the giving public's total donations and spend it on air operations and nice offices, in the world of 24/7 rescue, MRT and independent lifeboats in some areas struggle to raise enough money to meet legal operating requirements, house their specialist kit without it going rotten, or even survive at all.
The cost of running some of these teams/crews is a few tens of thousands of pounds a year. Often the cost of new boats or vehicles or buildings is just a dream well beyond the realm of the normal funding base and only exceptional donations from other charities or government grants can save them.
For example, the whole of
Scottish Mountain Rescue runs on just over one million pounds per year. Think about how far that goes in air operations.
MREW
MRI