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Half of eligible pilots take $125,000 bonus

A little more than half of the Air Force pilots eligible for the $125,000 pilot bonus have decided take the money, according to the Air Force.

As of May 1, the bonus offer and the requirement to extend active-duty service for five years had been accepted by 53.3 percent of the 475 eligible pilots. Officers are eligible to take the bonus once they reach the end of their eight-year commitment to serve as pilots.

By Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2008, 872 pilots will be eligible for the bonus and the Air Force hopes about two-thirds of the pilots will sign up.

So far, the lowest take rate has been among Air Mobility Command pilots — 46.9 percent — while Air Force Materiel Command has the highest take rate — 80 percent.

Sign up rates for the other major commands are:

* Air Combat Command — 50.8 percent.

* Air Education and Training Command — 52.9 percent.

* Air Force Special Operations Command — 54.5 percent.

* Pacific Air Forces — 66 percent.

* U.S. Air Forces in Europe — 51.9 percent.

* Air Force Space Command and miscellaneous agencies — 62.8 percent.