Nightwatchman - the point that needs highlighting is the number of pilots who actually claim boarding school allowance (or CEA as it is now known). On the flight at Chivenor, I am the only pilot who claims it - as I said, the majority of RAF SAR pilots are younger guys and gals. I suspect that across the SARForce the percentage is very similar so our overall cost is much lower than you assume.
As for lack of final salary pensions - who chose to work in civvystrasse? No-one seems to get final salary pensions anymore - the fact that they exist in the Services is used to offset our pay levels which would have to be higher if we had to sort our own pensions out so it's a case of swings and roundabouts. Hopefully the only real advantage is that they are paid from the defence budget instead of some dodgy hedge fund - the only thing more gold-plated than that is to have been the boss of RBS
