Colorado Technical University

Fleet Air Arm salary vs RAF?

Is there a great difference between the salaries of pilots in the RAF versus the RN's Fleet Air Arm? The RAF website has quite a lot of information to go with its careers, and my understanding is that the pay starts off at around £15,000 rising to around £32,000 once you are fully qualified, including flying pay. Unfortunately the RN site does not have so much information. On one page it states £24,000 including flying pay, on another excluding. Also, graduate salaries are drastically higher. Basically if anyone can outline the difference in salaries between RAF and FAA Pilots at similar stages of training and experience, with perhaps some detail on flying pay I'd be grateful. Obviously money isn't everything, but if one is earning drastically more than the other then it does effect which one to go for. Some bonus questions/requests: Can you apply to both the Navy and RAF at the same time, and does being turned down for one affect your chances with the other? And if anyone knows a good site with information on the RN FAA I'd be very happy. The RN website is pretty tight with information, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of info floating around, unlike the wealth that I've digested to do with the RAF. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. You can apply for RAF or RN Fleet Air Arm at the same time - And I honestly believe the pay must be about equivalent... I don't see why one turning you down will affect the other. What I would question personally is not the salary - I would question "how long a commitment" you have to make ? Most service pilots "want out" to make the "big salaries" as civilian pilots. So ask how long you have to stay in - that might be different. My recommendation - suggest you qualify as helicopter pilot - RAF or FAA does not matter