Most F-22 pilots pass on re-up bonus

R

rock45

Active member
I can only assume the reason lack of future action?

Most F-22 pilots pass on re-up bonus

By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 22, 2008 6:10:55 EDT
In the end, 68 percent of eligible pilots signed up for the $125,000 retention bonus in fiscal 2008 — more than the goal of 66 percent — but the final numbers show troublesome trends among fighter pilots.
Fifty-nine percent of the 290 eligible fighter pilots chose to stay another five years beyond the end of their eight-year service commitment. The loss of these pilots, typically new majors on their third or fourth assignment, adds to ongoing concerns about having enough experienced pilots on hand to teach new pilots arriving at operational squadrons.
The fighters with the lowest retention rates were A-10s at 53 percent, F-16s at 51 percent and F-22s at 43 percent. Retention rates for other fighters were 81 percent for F-15Es and 68 percent for F-15s.
All other types of manned aircraft had retention better than 68 percent, ranging from 81 percent for combat rescue pilots to 71 percent for mobility pilots.


Link
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/10/airforce_pilot_retentionbonus_102108w/

Second link for page II
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/10/airforce_pilot_bonus_092208/
 
They know it's going the way of the dodo and they got to fill the civilian airline pilot slots before they're all taken.
 
major airlines offer

I don't know know many major airlines offers are going to be out there? I don't think its job offers I think its the daily grind. Think about it in a way it's boring. No air to air combat anywhere even F-15C pilots are getting cut out of the two current wars were in, mainly to AG stuff right? Assignments are on high profile bases with tons of brass around so it's by the numbers. I have read where F-22 squadron are having a hard time getting other squadrons to train with them, so its boring. Only a little over 200 plan so far so no way near the 500+ F-15s we have. To me reading between the lines it's a F-35 future out there unless world situations change. Current assignments will be homeland security I'm not saying that's not important but flying boring patterns isn't what this flying killer was made for. A high point may be a Bear flying nearby and needs a little exciting escorting.

I think the USAF needs to make the F-22 more duel role and do it quickly.

Does anybody think I might be on track a little on this or are outside offers just better?
 
Airline pilot: great pay, lots and lots of travel (if you like that), hot stewardesses to mack on, no more high-G maneuvers which make all your joints hurt... Just fly your plane from point A to point B... the plane does most of the flying for you. No one shoots at you from the ground.
It's a winner.
 
Keep in mind that the sample size for Raptor pilots was only 15, very hard to draw any conclusions from such a small pool, and these pilots have already served eight years, for people who don't plan on making a career out of the military that's a long time to put their civilian lives on hold.
 
the_13th_redneck said:
Airline pilot: great pay, lots and lots of travel (if you like that), hot stewardesses to mack on, no more high-G maneuvers which make all your joints hurt... Just fly your plane from point A to point B... the plane does most of the flying for you. No one shoots at you from the ground.
It's a winner.
Click to expand...

All these Pilots have had good educations and have lots of job possibities besides the airlines. Also combat aircraft pilots are not high on the list for airlines, The airlines take pilots used to flying larger aircraft first.

How many fighters jocks would enjoy operating what amounts to a long distance elevator?
 
That $125K bonus is a big incentive.
Some quick checking for civilian pay rates.
Starting pay ($13.50 - $174.00) (Annual $28,080 - $361,920)
Max pay ($225.00, Annual $468,000)

Military Pay rates:
O4 (MAJ) 8+ years, $67,680 (base), $7,800 (flight), $75,480 (total)
O3 (CPT) 8+ years, $62,364 (base), $7,800 (flight), $70,164 (total)

Something to be said for the slow and safe civilian sector.
 
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