JTO
Yes, I don't think this is quite right yet. The £70k at an EDP on AFPS15 would make more sense. Otherwise, it was ever thus that we effectively pay our people to leave. I got a £50k FRI a few years ago and it retained me having started sniffing around the ATPL route. Not a huge amount of money when it had a 5yr ROS, but enough to drag me through to the 22/44 point on the old pension scheme.
However, as I understand it things are different than when I joined. The majority of aircrew now take a Short Service Commission of 12 years, so the 11 year point for £70k may not be so mad. However I would have thought the offer of a Permanent Commission to 18/40 would be enough and then offer the £70k to drag them past that Early Departue Point (EDP) might be better.
It will be inteesting to see whether they have got it right or not.
LJ