My comment, "now seen as just another resource" reflects a change in attitude in more recent years. When the service was troubled with "Ram Raids" and extended high spead pursuits the arrival of air support was seen as a highly significant development and we were not subject of the attentions of the "Bean Counters". As a result we were able to develope the art into a highly effective and efficient service.
The problem is that 20 years later, many of our managers have forgotten what is was like before we existed. I repeat, if the jam gets to be spread too thin as a result of these Force amalgamations, then efficiency will drop. There are significant savings to be made in infrastructure & support contracts etc, especially as part of a Regional or National air wing, but not, repeat not in hardware.
Whirls, my attitude towards corporate accountants is that they usually know the cost of everything and the value of nothing!
Tigerfish