Kaine Introduces Legislation to Retain Air Force Pilots and Aircrew

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in introducing the Retention Enhancements for Tactical Aircrew Initiative (RETAIN) Act and Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act, bipartisan legislation that would help preserve American airpower dominance by retaining Air Force aviators and Weapons Systems Officers (WSOs).

“There is no air force in the world that can do what the United States Air Force does. But in order to maintain this superiority, we need to make sure we are retaining our best aviators. Over the past decade, we’ve seen more and more mid-career pilots leave for better pay in the commercial airline industry or private sector,” said Kaine. “That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan RETAIN Act and Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act to help address these pilot shortages.”

Specifically, the RETAIN Act would:

• Require the Secretary of the Air Force to offer non-monetary incentives to the maximum extent that is practical, such as: assignment at the duty location of the officer's preference, the opportunity to perform a non-flying staff assignment remotely or remain in active flying status, and the opportunity to transition indefinitely to a non-combat aviation service career path.
• Require the Secretary of the Air Force to pay the maximum Aviation Incentive Pay (AVIP) authorization to eligible officers with more than eight years of service.
• Mandate that bonus contract lengths and monetary incentives for the Active Component must, at a minimum, match those available to the Reserve Component.
• Increase the maximum authorization for the Aviation Bonus to match the recommendation from a 2019 RAND report on aviator retention.

In addition to Kaine, Budd, and Shaheen, the RETAIN Act is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

Specifically, the Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act would:

• Permit a one-time career intermission for eligible Air Force fighter aircrew, including Fighter Pilots and WSOs, to last from four months to one year.
• Allow aviators to spend time in the civilian workforce and still return to active duty.

In addition to Kaine, Budd, and Shaheen, the Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

Full text of the RETAIN Act is available here. Full text of the Fighter Aircrew Career Flexibility Act is available here.

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