Very interesting and informative thread. Many of the issues outlined here should be taken on board by Government agencies too, and by that I mean the RAF/FAA/DAAvn. From my experiences of Flight Operations staff in the RAF the level of training and technical knowledge is appalling and in my opinion as an aircraft operator the MoD should be looking at exactly the same issues as commercial aviation regarding training and competency.
Currently Flight Operations training in the RAF is ATC centric which although may give a useful grounding of the absolute basics of airfields and simple airspace issues actually teaches nothing on the technical issues surrounding the operation of aircraft. Sadly there is little enthusiasm for a more structured course of instruction within the service.