I'm the kind of guy who would get kicked off the team by the
higher ups

Isn't this all a good example of what happens when you have
subjective criteria? Sure you may personally (or institutionally) be able to
choose the best team, but you will invariably stir up feelings and objections
that question your judgment, your motives, and your reasoning. And you will want
to suppress the voices that raise those issues. Which is what is going on here.

I have not said that Flavio has made bad choices (originally). I have just
pointed out that subjective criteria raises problems. And now my point has been
proven in spades. I am given to understand that I shall be hearing soon from the
head of the Italian Aeroclub (Flavio's boss?). Apparently I have pissed him off
before. I have never heard of him before.

I am the kind of guy who speaks his own mind, who is blunt, and who pisses
people off by my straight (some who say rude) talk. I often don't make friends
of those who have some power over me. So it is in my personal interest that I
get what I get based on objective criteria, and not on the whim of some official
or other.

What could be more American than that?