Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[di1630]

Rumor has it the FY19 Aviation Bonus (AvB) will be released this week. Check out this link for some critical info: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/118841-end-year-salary-survey-26.html

Heard summer 19 VML is out as well. Any truth? Makes sense to get them both out early, VML before the ACP.


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[jrobe]

4 hours ago, Klepto said:

Rumor has it the FY19 Aviation Bonus (AvB) will be released this week. Check out this link for some critical info: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/118841-end-year-salary-survey-26.html

I hate how they wait 3 months into the FY to release stuff.

Start the early bonus sign up again.....(minus the hiccups from last time).

[SocialD]

Sounds like the ANG bonus will be released today (or this week).  Shortened the big bonus timeline to 2 years but also now required to be on permanent AGR (ie...no temp AGR or ADOS) to get the big bonus, which will likely hamstring many squadrons.  I also think they dumped the only 1 big bonus per career bs as well.  Until they up the big bonus, allow it for 1 year orders (any order) and allow guys still under their UPT ADSC to get the bonus, it's still a meh for me.  

Edited January 14, 2019 by SocialD

[SFG]

1 hour ago, JPIG_NAV said:

So I just came across this in the AFMAN65-604 (Air Force's Financial Management Manual):

This is for FY19, mind you

The aviation bonus is first noted here:

7.1.5. 512 Incentive Pay – Officer Totals. This project provides for pay per 37 U.S.C. § 301 and § 351 for these types of duties: 7.1.5.1. Rated officers who qualify for Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP).

       7.1.5.2. Aviation Bonus (AvB). A financial incentive to complement non-monetary initiatives to improve aviation officer retention.                 

        7.1.5.2.1. Pilots.

       7.1.5.2.2. Navigators.

       7.1.5.2.3. Air Battle Managers. 

 

..........and then under the 512 list of subprojects:

512.13 AvB – Pilot

512.14 AvB – Navigator (Legacy)

512.15 AvB – Air Battle Manager (Legacy)

 

What do you think legacy means? To me, since those two career fields are the only ones labeled with "legacy," it feels like there wont be a new round of bonuses for ABMs/Navs, and legacy means paying out bonuses from the past? Or, they are maintaining last years bonus terms for those two careers, and altering the pilot's?

Either way, please tell me I am way off here...

My guess is that it has more to do with the pot of money than anything.

Word on the street is 22 Jan now.

[di1630]

New guidance on MyPers open to sign up.
11F:
35k for 3-12 years, choose your length. 100k up front for 7-9 yr, 200k for 10-12 years.

Looks like for legacy dudes if you want to stay longer and renegotiate you’ll keep your current rate of $25k.






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[Guardian]

I’m betting that the news will tout this as another massive bonus instead of what it actually is.

[Nineline]

New guidance on MyPers open to sign up.
11F:
35k for 3-12 years, choose your length. 100k up front for 7-9 yr, 200k for 10-12 years.

Looks like for legacy dudes if you want to stay longer and renegotiate you’ll keep your current rate of $25k.






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What’s the offering for non-11F bubbas? And are they still offering a contract-expired bonus?

-9-


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[ThreeHoler]

Without getting into details (since the doc is FOUO) the contract options are the best they can be for 11M, 11F, and 11B.


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[Swizzle]

Two categories got a bump in tiers which equated to max $ per NDAA and more flexible length options.

Renewal and "late-taker" options are flexing with tier. Lower tier # = more $ and more flexibility.

$0.02...as always this policy is years lagging the trend/chasing the trend and crawling, not even taking baby-steps. It won't be enough, will have to change [i.e. increase in value] again this year (value increases can be options-based like timing front/back/choice or $ qty)

[Guest]

The renegotiate option is a steaming turd. Minimum 3-year extension at your current annual bone-us, rather than the new charts.


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[SFG]

It'd be worth a lot more if they could get Congress to make the bonus tax-free. As it is, if you take one of the lump sum options you're getting forced into a much higher tax bracket losing an additional 8-11% on most of your bonus plus the % you are used to paying in taxes. Not worth it unless you've got a lot of hope for your investment portfolio.

Also, I don't really understand the tiers. It should be more like 11F/B, 11U, 11H, and everyone else (not necessarily in that order). What's the difference between an 11M, an 11R, and an 11S? Yeah I get it... their respective communities have different manning levels/take-rates, but 11Ss and 11Rs could go fly in place of an 11M pretty easily... and when all of the 11Ms leave, they will. Non-fighter fixed wing dudes should all get the same.

Note to all non-11Ms... cross-train to 11M before you become eligible for the bonus.

[SFG]

Also, my buddy's excel worksheet says the bonus needs to be at least $65,000 to begin to stem the flow and compete with the airlines. Bummer.

[neontico]

The AF literally paid RAND to do the same type of analysis, and their findings resulted in a similar figure.  Yet here we are at half rate lol.

 

And I agree, toting this thing as $35k (or any figure) is almost insulting... No, it’s really just $26k.

Edited January 23, 2019 by neontico

[jazzdude]

What's the difference between an 11M, an 11R, and an 11S? Yeah I get it... their respective communities have different manning levels/take-rates, but 11Ss and 11Rs could go fly in place of an 11M pretty easily... and when all of the 11Ms leave, they will.

Who will be your formation leads and MCs for large package airdrop (C-17/C-130)? Not really something the 11S or 11R communities really do, and not something you could soon people up quickly to do.

Even if they could fill in for 11Ms, who will backfill 11R/11S?

Also, AMC has been supplying lots of extra bodies for rated staff billets and the white jet bills-who will fill those if the 11Ms punch? When I left T-6 nation, my sq had more C-17 pilots than FAIPs... Not like any other community has an excess capacity like AMC had, but now AMC bleeding out as guys take their international widebody aircraft experience out to the civilian market.

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[SFG]

1 hour ago, jazzdude said:

Even if they could fill in for 11Ms, who will backfill 11R/11S?

Also, AMC has been supplying lots of extra bodies for rated staff billets and the white jet bills-who will fill those if the 11Ms punch?

 

That’s kind of my point. 11Ms, 11Ss, and 11Rs are cut from the same cloth.

But I see what you’re saying about retraining and the business case for focusing on 11Ms.

[di1630]

The renegotiate option is a steaming turd. Minimum 3-year extension at your current annual bone-us, rather than the new charts.


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No kidding. I was considering renegotiating if I could get the higher rate but F that.


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[Negatory]

9 hours ago, Klepto said:

It'd be worth a lot more if they could get Congress to make the bonus tax-free. As it is, if you take one of the lump sum options you're getting forced into a much higher tax bracket losing an additional 8-11% on most of your bonus plus the % you are used to paying in taxes. Not worth it unless you've got a lot of hope for your investment portfolio.

Not to get sidetracked, but tax brackets don’t work that way.  You only pay the higher rate on the dollars that exceed the tier values - taking the bonus will have absolutely no effect on the rest of your “normal” pay/“the % you are used to paying.”  It’s impossible to lose money by bringing in more income.

[nunya]

1 hour ago, brawnie said:

It’s impossible to lose money by bringing in more income.

Completely false.  Taxes are much more nuanced than that blanket statement.  For example, many credits and deductions phase out at AGI and MAGI thresholds.  I qualified for the Saver's Credit most of my AD years.  Not so much anymore.

Edited January 23, 2019 by nunya

[Runr6730]

Here’s a little tidbit about the bonus for tax season. If you take the lump sum upfront and also contribute to a Roth IRA throughout the year, the lump sum will bump your annual AGI above the threshold where you can contribute the full $5500/yr.    If you don’t watch it carefully, you’ll contribute too much and will be subject to tax penalties. 

[nunya]

Yep.  It is fixable.  

https://www.thebalance.com/what-to-do-if-you-contributed-too-much-to-your-roth-ira-3192888

If in doubt go ugly early for the Backdoor right away.

[SFG]

6 hours ago, brawnie said:

Not to get sidetracked, but tax brackets don’t work that way.  You only pay the higher rate on the dollars that exceed the tier values - taking the bonus will have absolutely no effect on the rest of your “normal” pay/“the % you are used to paying.”  It’s impossible to lose money by bringing in more income.

Yep, we're saying the same thing. "As it is, if you take one of the lump sum options you're getting forced into a much higher tax bracket losing an additional 8-11% ON MOST OF YOUR BONUS plus the % you are used to paying in taxes."

In other words, you pay the same on what you're used to... and the part of the bonus that enters the higher tax brackets (most of it) you pay more on.

Edited January 23, 2019 by Klepto
To be nicer.

[SocialD]

3 hours ago, nunya said:

Yep.  It is fixable.  

https://www.thebalance.com/what-to-do-if-you-contributed-too-much-to-your-roth-ira-3192888

If in doubt go ugly early for the Backdoor right away.

This. It doesn't hurt you to go this route if you think you'll be anywhere near the limit.    Just be cognizant of the pro-rata rule if you already have money in a traditional IRA. 

Edited January 23, 2019 by SocialD

[BADFNZ]

On 1/23/2019 at 6:05 AM, nunya said:

Yep.  It is fixable.  

https://www.thebalance.com/what-to-do-if-you-contributed-too-much-to-your-roth-ira-3192888

If in doubt go ugly early for the Backdoor right away.

Dumb question after reading this article:  If I have a Roth IRA, contribute the max, file jointly with my wife who doesn't work, am I limited to $120K or $189K?  It says individuals are limited to $120K but is that individuals filing by themselves, or would it apply to me since the IRA is in my name and I'm the only one earning an income?

[Guest]

Dumb question after reading this article:  If I have a Roth IRA, contribute the max, file jointly with my wife who doesn't work, am I limited to $120K or $189K?  It says individuals are limited to $120K but is that individuals filing by themselves, or would it apply to me since the IRA is in my name and I'm the only one earning an income?

With a combined income of less than 189k, both you and your wife would be able to contribute the $5500 to each of your IRAs.


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[Guardian]

Even if she doesn’t work you get to claim the higher income cap and contribute the max to both yours and hers. Yeah. What he said.