Well, first the Kinloss Team were called out, then Leuchars and finally this weekend the Leeming team were duverted from their intended winter climbing training in Scotland to look for the missing Major. He was reported to be a fit and experienced mountaineer, but the alarm was raised when he didn't make an appointment last Monday. His car was found in the Glen Nevis top car park and he had apparently intended to do the Aonachs. Dundonnell MRT were to have had a training day on Sunday, but they're instead coming down to help with the search. In this post-SAR phase of the incident, this is surely in the best traditions of RAF MR

Otherwise, there have been MR incidents on Ben Wyvis, another on the Ben, and yet another on Aonach Mor.

Without referring to any particular incident, it has been interesting over the last 35 years or so, to see how searches develop. For many years I've been surprised and disappointed at how, particularly when conditions are harsh and the casualty can be expected to be deteriorating fast, searches start out with just one team and it isn't until the second or third day, when to put it plainly time has more or less run out, other help is finally called in. Of course full responses just cannot be sustained for every missing hill-person, but the signs are often there and surely it is better to have too much help rather than too little. If RAF MRT assistance is offered, I believe it should immediately be accepted.

The above is a personal opinion and it may be wrong - but it might be right.

T Taylor