Flight Incentive Pay for Army Aviators

The U.S. Army is paying incentives under the Aviation Career Incentive Act ACIA to attract and retain qualified aviators that are no longer justified. The research was designed to determine the Armys need to pay aviators ACIA in order to attract and maintain qualified aviators. The Aviation Career Incentive Pay Program was designed and implemented to prevent highly skilled personnel from leaving the military to take higher paying jobs in the civilian aviation sector. Air Force and Navy pilots make up the primary source of pilots for the civilian aviation sector and are in direct completion for trained aviators. Army pilots who are predominantly trained on helicopters are not heavily recruited by the civilian aviation sector as there is no significant market for helicopter pilots outside of the military. The results of this study indicate that the Army has been paying Aviation Career Incentive Pay to officer and warrant officer aviators for reasons other than those set down in the Act. Most Army aviators surveyed feel they are entitled to the pay, because of their special training and skills. At the time this study was completed there is no established shortage of qualified personnel applying for Army flight school. Additionally, the Army has not experienced any problems retaining qualified aviators. ACIA, Aviation Career Improvement Act, Flight Pay Army Aviators, Helicopter Pilots, Incentive Pay.