Air-Sea rescue battle.

A battle has raged between the Australian Aerial Patrol ( AAP ) based at Wollongong airport and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority ( AMSA ) over control of the only Forward Looking Infra-red Camera ( FLIR )in this state.
The FLIR is invaluable in locating mariners and craft in distress in the dark and is currently fitted to the AAP's twin engine Piper Chieftain. The AMSA wants it removed and fitted to a Sydney based rescue helicopter.
This is where the two points of view diverge. The AMSA claims that fitted to a helicopter it serves two purposes - locating those in distress in the water - and rescuing them. AAP agrees with that view but points out that the range of a helicopter is much less than a fixed wing aircraft. The AMSA counters that other fixed wing aircraft with FLIR can be called in for offshore work where the range of a helicopter is insufficient.
AAP trumps that argument by arguing that the only other aircraft with FLIR equipment are both two hours flying time from the Sydney coastline. As such, a rescue delay would be crucial.
The dispute has degenerated into a political battle with the only hope of the AAP retaining a FLIR is if the state government injects funds to keep it in it's present role.
Common sense would indicate that both options are needed if the NSW coastline is to have an adequate search and rescue service. A two hour delay to commence deep offshore searches is beyond comprehension. A FLIR is a valuable tool that can not only be used in sea searches, but also to recover those lost in the snow or on mountains. It would not be too much to ask that funds - both state and Federal - be made available to provide units on both a fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter.