Flying Pay (rate of)
 

Can anyone tell me the current rate of flying pay for a newly-qualified (i.e. post "wings") pilot in the RAF? Second question: what does a month living in mess cost these days? Thanks to all responses.

£12 something - the mess tent is free, if you are SH, still got to pay council tax though.

Post wings? We wish...


...post OCU for most nowadays I'm afraid (unless you we're lucky with certain dates at EFT/IOT), so for some quite possibly up to 2 years post "wings".:mad:

Google is a wonderful friend:

- Initial rate of flying pay = £12.95 per day.

- Food charges - £26.31 per week (don't know how PAYD works with this).

- Single accomodation for JO = £1668 per annum.

I'll let you do the maths!

Don't forget your Mess Bill as well - Mess subs, Ents levy, silver levy, gardens levy etc etc. May be wrong but say roughly £30 per month before you add on any sqn fund subs, bar bill, breakages etc!

Thanks for the replies. The info was for my grandson, who has been getting a lot of bulls**t from a friend regarding pay in the RAF at present. I went through the system myself, Jet Provost 1965-66. Seems things are getting tighter; if I recall correctly, we were paid flying pay even in basic training. The princely sum was 7/- a day (35p), to add to the basic Pilot Officers pay of £1:9/- (£1.45p). Mind you, that was in the days before the "military salary" was introduced, and accomodation and food in the mess was free. "When I were but a lad....."

Last I heard from whispered voices in Cafe 128 at MOD HQ is that, as a retention measure, all flying pay will be held in a central fund (by Northern Rock:p), and paid retrospectively on leaving the service as a lump sum. It will only be paid if a minimum of 16 years return of service has been completed. To make things easier it will be called a "gratuity". To avoid confusion with the current system flying pay will be stopped with immediate effect. This new gratuity will only be paid to those who are entitled to flying pay. Should an individual leave under PVR terms then his "gratuity" will be retrospectively halved!:E

Well, it is a rumour network!