There really should not be an allowance called Flying Pay -
As an earlier poster suggested, quite rightly in my view, it's about time the one size fits all approach was binned, and people were paid the rate for the job as pay. It is ludicrous to suggest that somebody earning a high percentage of their income as an 'allowance' or 'incentive pay' should avoid counting on it when buying their house etc... what are they meant to do, stuff it in an old sock or bury it for hard times ahead?
To an extent the banding issue deals with it for lesser mortals like what I were, but even then I think many would query how a bandsman ends up higher paid in a fighting service than just about any other trade. Nothing critical of bandsmen there - good on yer for managing it.
Admin Bluntys (sorry, was that something like someone's Pprune ident?) should be paid in line with clerical staff of relevant grades, plus an X factor (if they can sing and dance) for being military... etc etc etc.
Now, that then leaves your sqn aircrew starting at a fairly low pay rate initially, then getting more as the logbook hours and rank increase with competence. (It might be an idea to promote on commonsense and ability, rather than number of charity runs up Ben Nevis with boots full of custard, but that's another argument).
Engineers - brainy sorts, definitely a decent pay packet.
What gets me (most) about this is twofold:
1) I find it incredible that so many on here are quite happy to see maritime and harriers, busy stations, good and effective people being binned... your turn will come, I fervently hope.
2) It's all sharp end stuff that's going - where's the decision to cut what's left of the tail end of the RAF? Sorry to harp on about it (oo, awful pun there) but why the **** do we still have a band if we can't afford any aircraft - the clue is in the 'A' bit of RAF after all....
Dave