Chug and Tuc
Thanks for your thoughts but I can't see what difference a civilian DG would make. They would be payrolled by the taxpayer via the Treasury - another Government department. If I look at the two comparisons:
Top Level: UK Government
Finance: UK Treasury
Ministerial Level: SoS for Transport (DfT) SoS for Defence (MoD)
Accident Investigation: AAIB (DfT funded) DAIB (MoD funded)
Safety Regulation: CAA (Dft and Operator funded) DSA/MAA (MoD funded)
Operators: Commercial/Private (they pay their regulator!) RN/Army/RAF (a Service so they do not pay their regulator)
So I would opine that actually the civil system could be open to more issues as it's all about MONEY (and never biting the hand that feeds you). Also, the Govt/Treasury wants Commercial Air Transport to succeed as this brings in revenue in tax receipts and commerce. So I really do not believe that the civilian system is as indpendent as you would seem to indicate.
Indeed I really can't fathom out how it could ever be independent as no one will ever do it for free!
LJ