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Military Benefits

Military Benefits Information for US Military, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Military Spouses and Military Family

You are here: Home / Aviation Incentive Pay & Bonus Programs

Aviation Incentive Pay & Bonus Programs

Current payment tables for Aviation Bonus (AvB), Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP) and Critical Skill Incentive Pay (CSIP) programs.Current Aviation incentive and bonus payments

Aviation incentive pay (AvIP) and the aviation bonuses (AvBs) may be given to eligible Regular and Reserve Component officers for continued aviation service

Critical skill incentive pay (CSIP) may be given to eligible Regular and Reserve Component enlisted Service members serving in an aeronautical career field or skill designated as critical by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned for continued aviation service

Payment of aviation pays and bonuses will be in addition to any other pay or allowance to which the Service member is entitled, except where otherwise provided

Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP) Payments

Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP) *
Years of Aviation Service (Effective April 26, 2017)
Less 2 Over 2 Over 6 Over 10 Over 22 Over 24
$150 $250 $800 $1,000 $700 $450

AvIP amounts listed are the maximum authorized by the DoD. Each branch of service will establish their own payment tables not to exceed these amounts.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft pilots can receive up to $1,000 AvIP effective January 1, 2016.

Critical Skill Incentive Pay (CSIP) Payments

Years of Aviation Service

Monthly Amount

4 or less $225
Over 4 years $350
Over 8 years $500
Over 14 years $600

Aviation Bonus (AvB) Payments

  • $25,000 per year for Regular Component officers or Reserve Component Active Guard and Reserve officers performing qualified flying duty.
  • $35,000 per year for Regular Component officers or Reserve Component Active Guard and Reserve officers performing qualified flying duty related to UAS operators.
  • $18,000 per year for all other Reserve Component officers performing qualified flying duty, to include UAS operators.

AvB amounts listed are the maximum authorized by the DoD. Each branch of service will establish their own payment tables not to exceed these amounts.

Changes Effective October 2017

CEFIP to CSIP: Career Enlisted Flyer Incentive Pay is now call Critical Skill Incentive Pay. CSIP includes an increase in pay with the maximum being $600 per month.

ACIP to AvIP: Career Aviators will receive Aviation Incentive Pay instead of Aviation Career Incentive Pay which includes 6 steps rather than 10 and includes a raise up to $1,000.

Awarding Aviation Career Incentive Pay (ACIP), Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP), and Career Enlisted Flyers Incentive Pay (CEFIP) will be discontinued after October 1, 2017.


Air Force Aviation & Bonus Pay Programs

Air Force Incentive Pay Increases effective October 1, 2017

  • Aviators will see a reduced number of steps in the Air Force Aviation Incentive Pay table
  • An increase to a maximum of $1,000 per month and increased pay rates across all steps for officers
  • Increase for enlisted crew members
  • The Critical Skills Incentive Pay, previously referred to as Career Enlisted Flyer Incentive Pay, will increase to a maximum of $600 per month
  • The Aviation Bonus program is now being offered to a larger pool of pilots that includes those beyond their initial service commitment
  • The Aviation Bonus Program, formerly call the Aviator Retention Pay, was increased from a maximum $25,000 to $35,000 a year.

Air Force Aviation Bonus Program

PILOT TYPE BONUS ELIGIBILITY MAX BONUS
Fighter pilot 1-year, 2-year, 5-year, 9-year agreements up to 24 years of service $35,000
Bomber/special operations /mobility pilots 1-year, 2-year, 5-year, 9-year agreements $30,000
Surveillance/combat search and rescue pilot 1-year, 2-year, 5-year agreements $28,000
RPA/drone pilots 5-year agreement $35,000
Combat search and rescue combat systems officers 5-year agreement $20,000
Fighter/bomber combat systems officers 5-year agreement $15,000
Special operations forces/surveillance combat systems officers 5-year agreement $10,000

Maximum Officer Aviation Incentive Pay Rates

Years of Aviation Service

Monthly Amount

2 or less $150
Over 2 years $250
Over 6 years $700
Over 12 years $1,000
Over 22 years $700
Over 24 years $450

Air Force Monthly Aviation Incentive Pay Rates for Enlisted

Years of Aviation Service

Monthly Amount

4 or less $225
Over 4 years $350
Over 8 years $500
Over 14 years $600

Army, Navy, Marine Corps Aviation Incentive Pay Rates

(Effective October 17, 1998)

Years of Aviation Service

Monthly Amount

2 or less $125
Over 2 years $156
Over 3 years $188
Over 4 years $206
Over 6 years $650
Over 8 years $800
Over 10 years $1,000
Over 17 years $840
Over 22 years $585
Over 23 years $495
Over 24 years $385
Over 25 years $250

The flight gate requirements remain unchanged. Applicable to both the Active and Reserve Components.

Source: Marines.mil


Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP) for Flying

HDIP

Amount not to exceed

Aircrew members $250
Non-Aircrew members $150

AvIP, AvB, or CSIP Limitations & Restrictions (not a complete list)

  • Officers receiving AvIP may not receive hazardous duty pay (HDP) or skill incentive pay or proficiency bonuses for the same skill and period of service.
  • Enlisted Service members receiving CSIP may not also receive HDP for the same period of service in the same career field or skill.
  • Officers receiving AvBs may not receive payment for the same period of service in the same career field or skill.
  • Enlisted Service members may receive only one skill incentive payment in any given month for the same skill and period of service Enlisted Service members may not receive CSIPs and proficiency bonuses for the same skills and periods of service.
  • Officers are not authorized for CSIP.

DoD Glossary

Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP): Payable monthly to Regular or Reserve Component officers with an aeronautical rating. Additional pay, issued by the Military Departments, that is designed to encourage officers to continue to perform duties in OFD or PFD or other aviation assignments designated by the Secretaries of the Military Departments concerned.

Aviation Bonus (AvB): Payable to Regular or Reserve Component officers eligible to receive AvIP
who execute a written agreement to remain on active duty or in an active status in aviation
service for a specified period. A bonus payment selectively offered to aviation officers who agree to remain on active
duty for specified periods of time.

Aviation Service Date: The effective date of the first aeronautical order to perform flight duties. For rated officers, this date is set when the Service member first reports to the aviation activity in which he or she will receive flight training in a specific aircraft leading to an aeronautical rating and is placed on aeronautical orders, or the date of commission, whichever is later. This date may be adjusted for breaks in military service or periods of non-permanent disqualification. Also referred to as “aviation entry service date” by the Navy and Marine Corps.

Critical Aviation Occupational Specialty or Rating: The designation by the Secretary of a Military Department of a military occupational specialty, designation, or aeronautical rating which the Service member holds, or is in training towards, as critical for mission success of the Military Service. This provision is applicable to both officer and enlisted Service members.

Critical Skills Incentive Pay (CSIP): Payable monthly to Regular or Reserve Component enlisted Service members with an aeronautical career field or skill designated as critical by the Secretary of the Military Department. Monthly incentive pay used by the DoD to attract and encourage enlisted Service members in the Regular or Reserve Component of a Military Service to serve in an aviation career field or skill designated as critical by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.

Officer Aviation Services and Skills: The services performed and skills utilized by officers in the Regular or Reserve Components who hold an aeronautical rating or designation or are in training to receive an aeronautical rating or designation, and who meet the requirements of this issuance and such additional regulations as the Secretary of the Military Department concerned may prescribe.

Officer Service: All service creditable pursuant to Section 205 of Title 37, U.S.C., as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or flight officer.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): A remotely-piloted, -controlled, or -programmed autonomous aircraft used for surveillance or strike missions, which may also be described as an “unmanned aerial vehicle” or a “remotely piloted aircraft.”

Years of Aviation Service (YAS): Service computed beginning with the effective date of the initial order to perform aviation service. It may be adjusted for breaks in military service or periods of non-permanent disqualification, as defined by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.

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