Search and rescue co-ordination activities which have been carried out in Moray for almost 20 years have transferred to the south of England.
The Ministry of Defence has revealed that all UK operations are now being organised from Fareham, in Hampshire.
Last month, Department for Transport staff there began managing search and rescue efforts under the guidance of personnel at the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) in Kinloss.
Though they will no longer co-ordinate missions, Moray staff will continue to assist with operations by intercepting search and rescue beacons until July.
Yesterday, tributes were paid to the dedicated personnel who have expertly scrambled aircraft to reach people in distress.
Mark Mair, who was plucked to safety after an accident at sea seven years ago, described ARCC staff as “unsung heroes”.
Mr Mair said: “They made life and death decisions from behind their desks, people don’t realise quite how much work they put in.
“These men and women did a tremendous job and are true unsung heroes.”
Moray MP Angus Robertson added: “I have always said the transfer of the work of the ARCC from Kinloss to Fareham was extremely disappointing.
“We are losing very highly skilled individuals in this transfer of operations.
“I wish the military personnel and their families who are moving away all the best for the future.”
An RAF spokesman said: “The National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) at Fareham took control of all UK search and rescue coordination activity on March 31.
“The Kinloss centre will support the NMOC by holding responsibility for the interception of search and rescue beacons until early July.”
The ARCC has orchestrated rescue missions from Kinloss Barracks, formerly RAF Kinloss, since 1997 and helped save hundreds of lives every year.
It emerged that Moray staff had led more than 7,300 rescues between 2012 and 2015.
The UK government’s move to close the centre caused uproar across Scotland in late 2014.
But Prime Minister David Cameron claimed the new base at Fareham would serve the entire country more efficiently.
The closure of the ARCC will affect 27 RAF posts, with personnel being assigned to new duties at RAF stations across the UK or departing the force.