[w1andsodidwe]

Yes this silliness of expecting private citizens to pay the cost of services that are provided in emergencies has gone a little crazy.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

If they expect private citizens to pay the expense of their rescue, then they need to get some idea ahead of time how much those people are willing to pay.

They can't just send in the marines, rescue the person, and then send them a bill for $1,000,000.

There should be levels of rescue at different prices so that it isn't an all or nothing proposition.

It turned out that Abby was OK. Using no planes at all and just sending a ship or two toward the beacon may have been enough to get there in time to save her, at considerably less expense.

Also, some of the expense is money that would have been spent anyway. If the planes that tracked her down would have been up in the air on some other training mission, then no real additional cost was incurred. In fact, her rescue might have been a benefit to Australia providing them with a real-life rescue situation, rather than simulated ones they might normally run.

[Charlespg]

Yes this silliness of expecting private citizens to pay the cost of services that are provided in emergencies has gone a little crazy.

When it involves dammed fool/unjustifed stunts for profit they should be charged