Commercially contracted civilian SAR: you get what you contract for and it is up to the operator to set SOP's and standards to operate successfully and safely with what has been specified. If top cover is provided then you don't need any long range comms (like the fishboat must have had to call for SAR), though I find that lack of capability odd. NVG is a complete and complex (expensive) program, takes time and money.
An instrument approach to either of the two west coast refueling stations would be another cost that can be saved by expecting the aircraft to cloud break on their own some distance away and drive in low-level while avoiding obstacles in the dark and weather. The commercial ARA letdowns for open ocean oil platforms have a number of restrictions and guidelines in the interest of safety, they were never meant for a shore landing. In the commercial world if no IP you'd have another established procedure to come down safely to a specific point, if nothing seen the gear up and back to your alternate.
Last edited by malabo; 25th Mar 2017 at 21:39.