zeddb,
you painted a perfect picture of the UK's "2nd airline" in the late eighties/early nineties.
Totally unsuitable (in at least 50% of the cases) individuals given training positions, purely by virtue of "right squadron" or "right handshake".
Having left blighty behind some 21 years ago, I cannot comment on whether that reflects the current status. . . regrettably, I would wager it probably does.