Wouldn't it just be easier and cheaper to have better communication and coordination between land based reconnaissance assets and ships?
Heh, you'd like to think that, but never underestimate the ability of jingoistic ideologues to guard their fiefdoms!!
Seriously, Stefano's book documents how divided the Italian military was in the interwar period. The RM recognized the carrier as a useful tool, they just weren't allowed to have one, or even their own aircraft...