Talk:RAF Search and Rescue Force

Surely SARF is dead now, due to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and their contractors taking over ? 22 and 202 Sqns have ceased operations, just leaving 84 Sqn in Cyprus and 1564 Flt in the Falklands, though the latter is due for replacement in a similar fashion to the UK by April 2016. 203 (R) Sqn which is the Sea King OCU will surely die too when the RAF scraps their Sea Kings. SARTU use the same helicopters as 84 Sqn, and indeed MCA contractors, so they might survive. But, basically SARF is dead - discuss ! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.30.182.243 (talk) 17:39, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Replaced by new organisation or Her Majesty's Coastguard?
According to Her Majesty's Coastguard (the article), "starting in 2015, Bristow Helicopters assume responsibility for search and rescue operations within the United Kingdom on behalf of HM Coastguard". This infers that the new service will be provided under HM Coastguard, thus expanding their current responsibilities to replace the land & sea S&R provided by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (with new helicopters operated under contract, like its existing ones). The BBC article states "the new service run by Bristow will be fully rolled out by summer 2017" and also "providing SAR helicopter services on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency". So I don't think by "service" it means a new organisation. Anyone any idea? Rob984 (talk) 18:09, 28 December 2015 (UTC)