DISCUSSION: Could an organisation like International Rescue actually exist?

[AlterEgo]

Search & rescue and humanitarian relief is one of the roles of the armed forces, thats why you have the likes of SAR helicopters in the RAF and US Navy hospital ships. Of course they all have a wartime role too but the armed forces don't just sit around doing nothing waiting for a war.

The RAF no longer operate Search and Rescue helicopters.

 

[birchesgreen]

But it did for decades.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Presumably this hypothetical organisation would also have to buy the name and all rights to it from the International Rescue Committee, which has been operating for years...?

 

[Bromley boy]

The RAF no longer operate Search and Rescue helicopters.

Search and Rescue has been outsourced to the private sector now, I believe. I must say I’m not sure that’s a good idea, although perhaps inevitable as the dilution of the UK’s military capability continues apace.

I’m not anti private sector by any means but I’m not at all sure the profit motive is compatible with providing these kinds of services.

In answer to the OP’s general thread, it’s an interesting idea, but I think for the combination of technological, political and (most of all!) financial factors discussed above it will never happen.

Even assuming it was possible, how practical would the “Thunderbirds” model really be? How many “rescue missions” are taking place in the world at any one time (Several hundred? Several thousand?) How would “International Rescue” be prioritised?

Search and rescue operations/emergency services surely only ever make a sense at a local level for this reason.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Presumably this hypothetical organisation would also have to buy the name and all rights to it from the International Rescue Committee, which has been operating for years...?

Not necessarily, it could easily be called something else. In fact it could even be an extension in some scenarios, though practicality of that structure may be questionable.

Even assuming it was possible, how practical would the “Thunderbirds” model really be? How many “rescue missions” are taking place in the world at any one time (several hundred? Several thousand?) How would “International Rescue” be prioritised?

The Thunderbirds model would be very impractical. One retired billionaire astronaut and his five sons just isn't feasible, so it would have to be a military-style operation with a great number of staff. Furthermore, you would have more than just one type of each craft. I remember an early episode where Thunderbird 2 was almost shot down by the US Navy, and as such Thunderbird 4 had to make an alternative way to a rescue mission and only just about made it. The fact it was a TV show means they only just about made it, but in real life those minutes would be absolutely vital, and failure is likely in any scenario, so you'd need multiple aircraft of the same kind.

Fire Services wouldn't be very efficient if it only had one of each type of fire engine, and the same logic applies here. You would also need multiple satellites, cause I can't imagine just one being above Britain receiving a crisis call from Australia. I don't think any of us would realistic expect any real life organisation to operate in the same manner, even though it's really the only thing we have for comparison.

 

[TheNewNo2]

It'll never happen.

Sure it's all fairly feasible technologically nowadays, apart from the gravity plating they had onboard Thunderbirds 3 and 5; the issue is the huge lawsuits which are bound to be filed. Either it'll be for not saving people, or for tapping people's communications to find out about all these events in the first place.

 

[OneOffDave]

It'll never happen.

Sure it's all fairly feasible technologically nowadays, apart from the gravity plating they had onboard Thunderbirds 3 and 5; the issue is the huge lawsuits which are bound to be filed. Either it'll be for not saving people, or for tapping people's communications to find out about all these events in the first place.

AIUI Thunderbirds didn't tap communications but listened out for openly broadcast distress messages. I'm pretty sure an action for failing to save someone would fail as there's no contractural relationship between IR and those wanting rescue. Also as long as IR weren't negligent, I can't see any case succeeding.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

AIUI Thunderbirds didn't tap communications but listened out for openly broadcast distress messages. I'm pretty sure an action for failing to save someone would fail as there's no contractural relationship between IR and those wanting rescue. Also as long as IR weren't negligent, I can't see any case succeeding.

Don’t underestimate the potential ridiculousness of the legal system. I think one time in the US a burglar cut himself and sued the homeowner and won (unverified), despite him blatantly breaking the law in the first place. A rescue agency certainly wouldn’t be immune from it.

 

[DarloRich]

Nurse, the screens! This is just such an outrageously bonkers and detached from relativity idea even for this place. This is a kids puppet show not a template for realistic operations. Goodness me.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Nurse, the screens! This is just such an outrageously bonkers and detached from relativity idea even for this place. This is a kids puppet show not a template for realistic operations. Goodness me.

If you have nothing to add to the discussion then forgive me for questioning your own sanity for taking part in what you think is bonkers. I mean for what other reason are you here?

 

[DarloRich]

If you have nothing to add to the discussion then forgive me for questioning your own sanity for taking part in what you think is bonkers. I mean for what other reason are you here?

Sorry for expressing my view. You seem to only want views that support your own. In my opinion your idea is silly and detached from reality on many levels. For instance how is this group to be funded, managed, trained, deployed, operated and audited for competence? it just isnt a realistic idea.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Sorry for expressing my view. You seem to only want views that support your own. In my opinion your idea is silly and detached from reality on many levels. For instance how is this group to be funded, managed, trained, deployed, operated and audited for competence? it just isnt a realistic idea.

It’s alright Darlo, I was just being a bit silly by suggesting you were bonkers. But truth be told everyone knows there’s no such thing as sanity, hence why you will find people suggesting crazier ideas than this one elsewhere in the world...

 

[SS4]

There will never be the political will to have an international rescue. Those countries most likely to need it are those who are the least likely to afford it and therefore being at the political whim of another country. The sheer resources needed are being used to fight and kill each other for control of ever dwindling resources and the Western world at least is becoming more insular with a worrying rise in nationalist tendencies. Sea levels in the Pacific threaten to inundate island nations but nothing is being done. It bears repeating: countries are slowly being wiped off the map and nothing is being done.

Climate change will be the final nail in the coffin, rising demand and less resources will see a reduction in cooperation

 

[Master29]

I would love to see a thunderbird 2 type aircraft as it was always most peoples favourite but sadly the old girl wouldn`t fly very well with those stubby wings.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

In Thunderbirds: Kid gets stuck down a mine-shaft, no sentient marsupials available to help but don't worry, International Rescue will save the kid... no expense spared!

In the real world, albeit one where International Rescue exists: Kid gets stuck down a mine-shaft, call comes in to IR, fed through several tiers of call-handlers and automated options ("...for space-rescue, press 3. For water-based rescues, press 4. If you are The Hood wishing to make a ransom demand, press the hash key...") before someone in an office decides that the boy in the mine-shaft isn't as viable an opportunity as the vanity monorail that's caught fire somewhere!