# 2024-019 Pay and Benefits, Pilot's Pay and Promotion

Case summary

F&R Date: 2026-01-06

The grievor contested his slotting upon promotion to the rank of Major (Maj) following the implementation of a new Pilot pay structure. He submitted that accepting a promotion to the rank of Maj resulted in a net pay decrease and believes this is due to an error in the design of the pay structure. The grievor explains that had he known the new Pilot pay structure would have been implemented in this way, he would not have accepted a promotion. As redress, he requests three additional Pay Increments (PIs) retroactive to his promotion to the rank of Maj.

The grievor submitted a second grievance pertaining to his promotion to Captain (Capt) General Service Officer (GSO) which was addressed as a preliminary issue to this grievance. He stated that prior to 2013, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) had a policy of backdating Capt GSO promotions to the date the Pilot entered the promotion zone once they had attained Wings Standard. Despite this, the grievor explained that his promotion had not been backdated. 

The Director General Compensation and Benefits, acting as the Initial Authority (IA), denied redress.  The IA found that the grievor was converted as a Capt to the new pay table and then subsequently slotted to the closest Maj PI, in accordance with Compensation and Benefits Instructions for the Canadian Forces (CBI) 204.04 (Rate of Pay on Promotion). The IA further found that the new Pilot pay structure was functioning as intended and that Pilots in higher leadership roles were compensated compared to the civilian market. 

The Committee found that the grievor's rate of pay upon promotion was established in accordance with CBI 204.04 and that while it is unusual for a higher rank not to have higher pay, it is not a legal requirement. As the grievor's rate of pay did not decrease on promotion, the Committee found that he had not been aggrieved. 

Regarding the preliminary issue, the Committee found that since October 2009, the CAF's policy has been to promote Pilots to the rank of Capt only upon completion of Phase III (attainment of Wings). The grievor was promoted in accordance with the applicable CAF policy.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority not afford the grievor redress.