LOSTinSPICE,
I think we could all do with a copy of that letter. When I enquired about this topic late last year I was told it was being "fired up" to DAAvn. I think he knows about it. If there's no need to pay FRI, why do we need progressive flying pay (Interesting that RAF and FAA chappies qualify for flying pay before they've even qualified on an operational type in many cases)? Don't we do it for the love of the job and because we're soldiers first? Did I just see Elvis?
Why don't the same rules apply across all three services? Their aircraft are no more complicated or any less demanding than ours (NOT looking to start a pi$$!ng contest either). And there's no less "Captaincy" taught on the "Joint" Army Pilots Course so that argument doesn't wash either.
My 2p is spent.