Pilots under the Air Pilots Award receive a higher rate of pay when they are eligible for an addition to salary or they complete higher duties.

Additions to salary

An addition to salary means that a pilot is paid an extra amount, on top of their award minimum salary for:

• doing certain types of work, for example engaging in flight instruction
• flying certain types of aircraft
• duties involving the use of an instrument flying rating
• the type of pilots licence their employer or the Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires them to hold.

The additional amount is treated as part of their salary for all purposes.

Commissions for pilots engaged in aerial application operations are not additions to salary.

Temporary higher duties

An employee who is required to complete temporary or relief flying duties that fall within a higher category or classification will receive a higher salary. This:

• is paid at the salary applicable to the higher category or classification
• includes any additions that apply to the higher duties being performed
• applies for the longer of 7 days or the length of time the employee is engaged at the higher category or classification.

An employee is paid at the higher classification rate for 12 months if they complete more than 90 days in total over a 12-month period at the higher classification. Periods spent covering the long service leave of another employee will not count for the purpose of calculating the 90 days.

Example – instrument rating addition during higher duties

Hanna’s a general aviation pilot.

While another pilot is on 14 days leave she’s rostered to carry out flight instruction using the privileges of a Night VFR or Class 4 instrument rating.

Hanna already receives an addition to salary for engaging in flight instruction, however she doesn’t conduct the flight instruction using the privileges of a Night VFR or Class 4 instrument rating. The type of aircraft she’s flying, and her aircraft classification won't change while she is filling in.

Hanna’s salary, which includes the addition to salary for providing flight instruction, will increase by the additional amount in clause A.1.8 for Night VFR or Class 4 . This includes for any time worked that doesn’t involve flying duties during this period.

If Hanna undertakes these duties for more than 90 days over 12 months, the higher rate applies for 12 months.

Employees who temporarily move to a lower classification will continue to be paid their existing rate on the salary scale.