And therein lies the rub. We're at a really tricky stage in the evolution of aviation - getting the optimum blend of automation and manual skills is a huge challenge. There have now been a number of recent high-profile incidents where automation (and semi-automation) have been a significant factor. What is really hard to quantify is the number of incidents that have been avoided through effective use of exactly the same systems.
It's so easy to point the finger of blame directly at the crew in this instance. I suspect cultural and systemic factors will have played a big part in this one.
Simply improving basic handling skills is not the solution and over-simplifies the issue. A holistic approach is required where designers, regulators, operators and crews all have a meaningful input into improving safety margins.
This will no doubt involve painful self-reflection for helicopter SAR in Ireland. Unfortunately, like most complex socio-technical systems, it takes failure to stimulate progress.