1) Some of the AI stuff is set up to try to be unpredictable but this is mostly in combat situations. Other things should be a cause/effect situation. Let me know what's causing you headaches and I'll try to think of what might be causing it.
2) Glad he responded.
3) Hmm, that's interesting. Sorry if this seems like a stupid question but did he have weapons? Running out of weapons can cause aircraft doing various actions to return to base.
The reason Recluse asked about a SEAD loadout is that you talked about requesting weasels which are SEAD aircraft. Cover is the A2A version.