I'm sorry Inch, please don't take this as an attack on pilots. TacHel guys have been very accomodating, within their individual span of control. First off, want to get this Jab in there: correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't one of the airforce guys in afganistan was responsible for one of the crashes, heard that.
Alright, I'm all for pilots teaching the principles of flight to the operators of UAVs, like you said they are the ones who understand how a plane flys. But your attitude toward the whole thing is typical of the airforce mentality, "thing in air....therefore we take the lead" the fact that the UAV is in the air is a minor thing compared to the role and use of the instrument. The next thing that that airforce could have role in, airspace deconfliction....well surprise our air defence guys have been doing that for years, both in the BAI and in the CAS bands. Can say that an Air Space controller instructor would assist greatly.
Also the problem with the airforce taking on a tactical asset like that is, focus, the focus is more likely to be on that aims and prinicples of our airforce. Which quite frankly has shifted into self-preservation mode. And a person/unit with two bosses gets little accomplished especially when their strategic aims are quite different. Also, as you know Inch and I'm pretty sure you can appreciate the airforce works on thier own time and schedules
Finally, think of it this way, Armd Recce guys have the ability to call in fire from the artillery, that doesn't make them a FOO nor does it make me Recce because I have 25 and an MSTAR....because vehicles that operate in the same elements does not mean that the functioning of the vehicle in that element out weights that aims and uses of that vehicle/crew. It's just a way to get to the war and fight it....