RAAF offer $30,000 to retain Pilots
 

The RAAF has just sent a letter directed at ozzie QFIs, Training Captains, QWIs etc, offering $30,000 to retain, (or re-gain for those that have already left), their expertise (incidentally, they would welcome Brits if you want to move down under).

Anecdotal evidence has it that the British RAF is losing a great many experienced pilots to the civilian sector. Are there any financial steps being taken by the UK Govt to retain experienced RAF pilots? - the 2% public sector pay rise is not much to look forward to.

Is that $30K Oz per annum? Or a one-off bribe?

$30K Oz works out at around £13500. If it's a one-off, I can't see it doing much to retain highly experienced RAF aircrew who would otherwise be off to the airlines.....:rolleyes:

It is a one off..... (the network I know say it is not enough in the current recruitment climate -they are dismissing it for better pay and conditions 'outside'). The Oz and UK Govts need to make attractive offers to retain their experts before its too late - (having made the jump, and once established outside, few want the upheaval of a return to the Military)

I reckon there's a zero missing!

Perhaps $300K Oz might attract some - but $30K? I guess they'll just, as you say, give that the flick?

30 k is correct, and I believe it's for a 1 year committment.
Not a very effective measure by all accounts.
For more info on the RAAF situation, for anyone considering a move, there's a long thread on D&G Questions called 'RAAF Pilots Leaving' or similar that has quite a bit of info and discussion, not to mention argument.

It’s not just the RAAF. It is being offered to the Army QFI's as well. $30,000 for 12 months return, not available if you are already serving a ROSO (return of service obligation) for another course. ie; QFI cse incurs a 2 year ROSO.
However it is available if you are serving out an MSBS ROSO. ie: have taken the 15 year retention benefit, which incurs a 5 year ROSO for 1 years pay.
For an Army Pilot I think it is about right, 30K on top of a mid level QFI's wage, around 110K would bring you right into the offshore CAPT wage area. However you will continue to work for the full 12 months with the Army not for only 5 months of the year:hmm:

This is only a 1 off offer until the wage and retention case goes fwd later this year to address the issue of the experience shortage.

Wrong. You are only ineligible if you still have PILOTS course ROSO. Any post-graduate ROSO is served concurrently.

By the way, its taxed as income so it equates to approx 16000 AUD in the hand.

RAF are offering £100k to Sqn Ldr pilots (£50k for navs) for a 5 year return of service post 38/16 point.

fltplt,

If you want to pedantic about what is in the offer then here is the "exact" wording WRT ROSO;

B. PILOTS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO A PILOT TRAINING, QFI OR TP RETURN OF SERVICE OBLIGATION (ROSO) AS AT 1 FEB 08 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE BONUS.
C. PILOTS SUBJECT TO OTHER NON-PILOT TRAINING ROSO (EG, MSBS) WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RETENTION BONUS.
D. ARMY PILOTS MUST BE UNDERTAKING QFI OR TP DUTIES DURING THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD OF THE SCHEME.

Now the above quotes are out of the ARMY offer, I have not seen an offer for the RAAF so they may be under different conditions.
Why wouldnt they be they are for everything else.:ouch:

Yep, ya right Bigdog.

RAAF offer only excludes for pilots course ROSO.

Pass-a-Frozo,

what you suggest could be true. However have you considered the complications of calculating who may be leaving soon and still be able to take the Bonus?
for example, this bonus is aimed at the senior QFI's in the SQN's, who would all have in excess of 70 days annual leave in their leave books (because they are the only QFI's in the SQN and picking up all the jobs, due to the other QFI's taking civil employment(cyclic argument)) and most likely have around 3-5 months long service.
I for example could take the bonus today and put in a leave app 2 months from now to walk out the door for the remaining period of my retention time (10 months). I thnk that long service counts towards ROSO time.

I for one welcome the Blood Money, it will keep me and others interested for long enough to see what comes from the pay case. When the pay case comes in I reckon that will be about the time that NVG experiance will be a step into most employers door once they all get NVD operations approval.

Qfi Roso
 

Bigdog,

Confirm a 2 year ROSO for RAAF QFI training?

Cheers,

Fails2FX

Im not sure about RAAF QFI Trg ROSO.

But Army is 2 years ROSO post graduation from QFI Course.

No ROSO for RAAF QFI training

Welcoming the money
 

Big dog,

Don't hold your breath over the 'pay review' mate. It gets submitted late this year (November I think) and by the time cabinet and the 'head shed' make a decision, it will all be too late in the coming.

Get out whilst you can instead of hanging in for small fry (30K)

Airlines recruiting massively as we speak.

Krudd has just frozen pollies pay for 18 mths so what chance of defence pay rises?
GAGS
E86

Plenty, I don't see a shortage of politicians. Even if there was one, would anybody care? :E

Mate your most likely correct on that timeline.
Ironically I have had some job offers in the last couple of weeks, to which I have turned down. I’m not ready to calm down for the Straight and Level lifestyle that civil sector offers. Right now that would bore the crap out of me, but each to their own and maybe sometime in the distant future I will "see the light" and leave for greener pastures.

Right now I love the Army and love the confusion of never knowing where I might be next week. For me $30K is just icing on the cake, but hell I’m going to reach out and grab it with both hands. However, I know that won’t be enough to keep many of my colleagues.

And there you have it.

The bonus targets people that were going to stay in anyway. Good luck to you Bigdog, I would do the same in your position.

For those that aren't eligible, the way this bonus was implimented may have made your decision to leave that little bit easier.

You there Shep??? :ugh:

Oddl enough I've had a couple of calls from guys who left the military to join various airlines and are tryingto get back in or at least do some reserve time. Grass as usual not as verdant on the other side I suppose.
Interestingly enough not a squeek from Navy about a $30k bonus... maybe everyone is happy:hmm: