Air Force again dangles $600,000 in bonuses to keep pilots in uniform

Air Force Times via Yahoo ^ | 12/08/2023 | Rachel Cohen

[SamAdams76]

I do. Thanks!

[GaryCrow]

Single Engine Aircraft and aircraft with an FAA multi-engine Center Thrust limitation rating - hours in such aircraft as the A-10, F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35, F-117, T-6 Texan II, T-38, U-2, U-28 (single engine turboprop), etc., do not count toward multi-engine time needed for a commercial or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Every hour pilots of those airframes spend in the cockpit is another day they sit on the last rung of that career progression ladder.

That's not correct. They count as multi engine cernterline thrust as you mentioned but the restriction to centerline thrust is removed by a couple of maneuvers on your ATP checkride. There are many airline pilots (me for example) who had all of their time in centerline thrust multi engine and went to the airlines straight out of the military. Single engine jet time like an A-4, AV-8B, and U-2 also counts as multi for ATP purposes.

[T.B. Yoits]

That’s new.

[T.B. Yoits]

I see it’s “new” as of 2018.

[GaryCrow]

I got my ATP in 2000 so it's not new.

If what you say was true then about 3000 of my co-workers wouldn't have a job.

[Gaffer]

These programs have been around a long time. I once got a VRB (variable reenlistment bonus) for taking a short (at 2.5 years) and tagging on 4 years in the AF in 1970. It was a VRB of 4 multiplier which meant a total of $6000 paid out every year for 4 years. They really needed people in my field and virtually all of the locations were for overseas. I did 8 years, 3 months (extensions) and was OCONUS for 7 of them.

[Fresh Wind]

OR, pilots can join any number of airlines at 5 times that rate.

And, by some odd coincidence, airlines are hurting for pilots because so many have suddenly dropped dead, and no one seems to know why.