Thought I would give you my take on Command By-Pass pay ....
By Pass Pay appears to be paid to the most senior eligible Officer. Eligible appears to be:
Not CAT D'ed
Not turning down the earliest course available (due to type (Airbus to 777 vv or crew compliment (Capt/ Capt)).
So although joiners from 98 are currently on Course they are not on By-Pass pay as unsuccessful Command Trainee's who have been CAT B'ed or C'ed, (be it 12 Months or 3 Years) are the most Senior and Eligible (as they are not CAT D).
So an unsuccessful Command Course Candidate, or an Officer CAT B'ed due to a bad PC, LC or Personnel incident would be eligible, and would receive By-pass pay in DOJ seniority... Currently estimated to be triggering at about 1995/1996 DOJ. (Check with Denly DON'T KNOW)
So the the guy currently on Command Course may be CAT A but he/she is not the most senior eligible Officer..... Strange system I know.
It would, however, appear that they have CAT D'ed any A scale guys (ex F/Es, Cadets) who where triggering By-Pass pay to avoid the significantly higher cost of A Scale By-Pass pay. This has resulted in it being triggered by cheaper, junior B scale Officers .... Guys who are not on Course and may not be on course in the next 36 months BUT are not CAT D'ed and therefore eligible!
Clear as mud?