Flight Pay... WTF?

[navy09]

@Fog:

Vapes is correct. See the CPI tables on the BLS website if you want proof.

CPI was 29.6 in 1960 and it was 207.3 in 2007; you do the math...

 

[a-6intruder]

The way it has been explained to me is that flight pay is not supposed to keep people in, but to pay them for the increased danger involved in being an aviator (or aircrew). Thats the reason it starts small and increases when you should be doing the most flying, and then tapers off when you will be leaving the cockpit. If it was just to keep people from jumping ship for the airlines then they wouldn't start giving flight pay until 8 years after wings. Thats what the bonus is for.

Old guys correct me if I'm wrong here, but I've heard this several times from the O-6 level.

Actually, I believe it is technically "Aviation Career Incentive Pay" and it is paid to keep you in, which is why you get it even when you are not flying as long as you make your gates. It is not hazardous duty pay. It tapers when they think they've got you on the hook for a career. As others have said, it would probably increase if they needed it to to ensure enough qualified aviators remain at the appropriate levels. It is not a hazardous duty pay; it is an incentive pay just like the other Bonus' are, which is why some communities get more bonus than others (or at least used to). http://www.dfas.mil/army2/specialpay/aviationcareerincentivepay.html

If it was to compensate for increased danger, then it ought to start big, taper in the middle, then end big when (some) guys continue to fly well beyond their prime, fly aircraft they are not familiar in, and basically scare the crap out of everyone.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Why thank you, sir, I pride myself on leadership traits.

Then give me and Vapes your $125

 

[red_ryder]

Then give me and Vapes your $125

Whoops, I would, but I left it on your mom's dresser last night!

 

[Junkball]

Let's get off moms, red. I got off yours.

So the bonus to keep you in =/= Aviation Career Incentive Pay?

 

[MAKE VAPES]

red, folks are lining up on the top rope to squash you... stop, exit stage left. Interject humor, something productive or stand by for a nuclear online figurative a$$ reaming. I like good banter, mind your audience, repercussions from percieved smack talking will hurt much less that way.

 

[Praying4OCS]

A blind man could see where this is going. :icon_ooh: Red, keep respectful with those jabs.... and stay on topic ladies.

 

[red_ryder]

Aw, ok, no offense intended. Just trying to interject some humor.

*ready room muzzle engage*

 

[exhelodrvr]

basically scare the crap out of everyone.

I wish that's what it was based on. I, and everyone I flew with, would be rich!

 

[FLYTPAY]

Aw, ok, no offense intended. Just trying to interject some humor.

*ready room muzzle engage*

Want some humor? Wait until selection...that will be funny, if you get there, and someone does not choke you with your whiz wheel.

 

[PropStop]

... someone does not choke you with your whiz wheel.

Okay, now I gotta call BS on this one. How can you choke someone with a whiz wheel? I suppose if you rammed it down their throat, that might do the trick. But when I imagine choking someone, I think of the external approach, you know, with your hands, or rope, or whatever you tie Red's mom up with.

Back to the topic...

I get paid more now than I ever expected to when I graduated college and wanted to be a cop. That being said, I totally agree that flight pay should keep up with inflation, or at leas try to. It IS a hazardous job, though not nearly as bad as it used to be. Maybe that's why the pay has gone down...

 

[Mumbles]

^If the edge of the CR-2 computer was sharp enough....you could slice the jugular open.

 

[HooverPilot]

Let's get off moms, red. I got off yours.

So the bonus to keep you in =/= Aviation Career Incentive Pay?

Aviation Career Incentive Pay = Flight Pay

Aviation Career Continuation Pay = Bonus

 

[FLYTPAY]

Okay, now I gotta call BS on this one. How can you choke someone with a whiz wheel?

It is worn dangling from a string....like a necklace.

 

[A4sForever]

We got @ $125 in flight skins a month -- and had to fly to get it -- and we deserved every penny.

But if it had been "ZERO" ... we would have flown just as hard if you'd give us an airplane.

I think it went up to @ $150/mo prior to my closing it out .... if you're doin' it for the money, the airlines paid better.