The 2019 Aviation Bonus Program, unveiled Wednesday, offers mobility, special operations and unmanned aircraft pilots more money — and the option of a shorter service commitment.
Maintainers working on the F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets will have their work cut out for them in the coming year as they try to get those jets’ mission-capable rates up to 80 percent by the beginning of October.
The percentage of eligible mobility pilots signing up for the Aviation Bonus Program dropped sharply, to 37.9 percent -- a six-percentage point decline from the previous year that is raising concerns among Air Mobility Command leaders.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has thrown down the gauntlet for the Air Force’s maintainers: Get four out of every five F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets ready to fly at any given time. It’s not going to be easy.