Dryce
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- May 17, 2006
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So today they announce the private contract for air sea rescue has gone to Bristow. Fair enough. I guess they'll do the job for the money.
But.
Will we the taxpayer actually save much? After all we'll still be paying the fixed costs of keeping some of the airbases going whether they're used for the SAR service or not.
And we presumably will still have the RAF running helicopters and training pilots but just not doing the SAR stuff as well. Which kind of makes me think we'll be paying for much of the underlying manpower and equipment costs - or conversely our military will have given up some of its own capability and flexibility (that will either cost in the future because we haven't got it but need it or we'll have to buy it back).
I have a horrible feeling that the UK taxpayer will end up paying more one way or another - and actually getting less.
But.
Will we the taxpayer actually save much? After all we'll still be paying the fixed costs of keeping some of the airbases going whether they're used for the SAR service or not.
And we presumably will still have the RAF running helicopters and training pilots but just not doing the SAR stuff as well. Which kind of makes me think we'll be paying for much of the underlying manpower and equipment costs - or conversely our military will have given up some of its own capability and flexibility (that will either cost in the future because we haven't got it but need it or we'll have to buy it back).
I have a horrible feeling that the UK taxpayer will end up paying more one way or another - and actually getting less.