Biggus,
I have read the entire thread. I can summarise it by saying that the civ crews seem to be more efficient in terms of maintenance and that the civ crews appear to have no rules. Then again the mil crews appear to operate in very poor conditions so maybe this isn't a factor.
The RN crews seem to think that they are adequately trained due core skills plus a top up. The RAF crews seem to think that SME is the way to go.
No one has given any evidence at all as to why mil crews would be any better than the civ crews - but when people like myself ask this very basic question/ raise the subject we are flanned with 'well you haven't got a clue' type answers.
In the absence of any evidence I must say as a complete outsider that no-one has offered me any compelling case as to why we will be worse off with only civ SAR.
But then again, I haven't got a clue...I am just perplexed as to why no-one would offer me one? But thanks for your help.