And having said all that. Just completed a mission where the shelter stayed open until RTB, but the wingman's one closed yet on arrival back opened again.
Used F2 to monitor it's arrival and expected it to stay closed, but it didn't, some 50 meters out, they opened! Magic!
Tried it on another mission but sadly it didn't work, so what's the trigger?
Re the groundcrew, it wouldn't at first have to be animated as indeed that's a selling point for Supercarrier, but like Infantry soldiers, just static Ai shouldn't be difficult.
TempestRiser: yes sound the same. It might even be the same as when AI aircraft are close, they often won't land or take off if the 'Player' a/c is nearby.