Possibly the Sea Kings swansong, well done all involved

The big yellow taxi is in the news again. Sucessful long range rescue that has been practised & carried out quite a few times.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/british-forces-rescue-cruise-passenger-injured-in-south-atlantic-30112015

I can’t recall the last military oggin rescue…

http://www.ukserials.com/losses-2012.htm

I agree with Portagee. The civilian SAR crews will face the same dangers as their military predecessors (many are ex military) and I’m sure they’ll do a brilliant job in very capable aircraft. It’s time to modernise with maximum cost effectiveness I don’t think lives will be lost due to the change.

Do remember that many of the crews manning the civil SAR are ex military.The new helis are better for the job replacing tired airframes. The crews have continuity in the role.

Yes, I doubt many of them will miss the Yellow Perils. Or the people who at times struggled to keep them flying.

Swan song for SAR maybe but Sea King ASaC7 will be continuing until at least 2018, and maybe later if the Merlin Crowsnest slips.

Do remember that many of the crews manning the civil SAR are ex military.The new helis are better for the job replacing tired airframes. The crews have continuity in the role.

RAF & RN SAR was there only to cover military recoveries: hence the move of 22/202 from Manston years ago, despite many more rescues per year than Coltishall. The clincher was that Coltishall had more military rescues per year than Manston.

I can’t recall the last military oggin rescue, so it’s no surprise at all that the SAR units are going/gone.

I’m sure the new civilian CG are doing a superb job and will improve further as the A189s come on stream.

We can’t forget that the Merlin flights will be providing rescue coverage for the fleet and of course cover the launch and landings from QE and POW in due course.

I had similar concerns when the old RN Wessex SAR went from Lee on Solent where they covered the busiest waterway in the world and handed over to civilian contractors. I am pleased to say that Solent SAR continues to be magnificent.

There is a certain irony that the last 2 years RN Merlin airshow display has included a winch rescue, when with the retirement of the Sea King the RN areleaving the public SAR business.

Can’t help but feel that there is an element “don’t worry folks the Navy can still do this if the civilian guys can’t or need helping out”.

Its disgusting, laying off the bravest guys of all.

The retirement of the military SAR force – both RN & RAF – is a decision I think will be regretted in a very short space of time, but not before some poor souls lose their lives.
I REALLY hope I am completely wrong on this one.