Evalu8ter,
Re SDH et al - don't think so, mate, just trying to keep up with you, as ever.
My take on the 'joint' experience is that, sadly, putting 'joint' formations under the ownership of a single service command isn't working as it needs to. The situation gets even worse when heads of those joint formations don't act in a 'joint' manner.
CHF had a solid, sound and useful (albeit limited) capability when part of Fleet. Knew who they were, what they did, led by a small but motivated staff and (as I remember it) worked just fine with anyone else when detailed off to do so. Not sure they have been any better as part of JHC, to be honest. Just more staff.
Getting helicopters to sea on large ships in benign seas isn't a high end flying (pole and pedals) skill, although highly skilled pole and pedal types are often encountered. The really necessary skills, as you point out, are the planning and airmanship aspects, and getting the deck to work. But the most essential thing for proper delivery of ANY capability is commitment, from the top to the bottom. And when one service decides that it should justify and preserve its own capabilities by diluting or denigrating those of the other two, that damages that sense of commitment. (Trust goes out the window as well).
Best Regards as ever to those out there in harm's way
Engines