I think it’s likely I have a bit more experience and expertise in ocean rescue than you do. I also know what Australia’s protocols are in this regard and how they exist.
You always send a plane out to look, because it gives you more information. Sometimes it just confirms what you already expect. That doesn’t make it a waste of time or money.
I guess the Quantas flight was a bit unusual? But with the folks that are doing the usual search and rescue I imagine something like this is done all the time - for practice and training. Head to some coordinate to search for the downed pilot, etc. Coordinate with nearby ships, make sure communications are working, etc. They spend money all the time on this stuff. Heck, for all I know, Quantas and other airlines do it once in awhile as well as part of an “on-call” support to normal SAR folks.
Hey, if Oz has dollars to burn for a look-see, with more Orions etc on standby, then good on yer, mate. I admire a gung-ho PJ force, even if no PJs were available or able to hop out of that airbus. "Thumbs up" is good for me, if you want to spend the dough.
But she would be just as rescued today by the fishing vessel, with no Airbus.
As far as your experience and expertise, I'm sure I'd be suitably impressed. I know some real rescue guys, PJs, and they do impress me So if you're one, I salute you.
But I been there too, on the deck, and not only in an ops room or CIC.
This wasn't a model I built.
And this wasn't taken on a flyover, it was taken by the skipper, me, up the mast 2,000 miles from any land.
Cheers mate, keep the keel down and the stick up.
