In a policy change announced Wednesday, enlisted sensor operators in the 1U Air Force Specialty Code and officers in the 18X AFSC now qualify for incentive pay equal to that of airmen who do similar jobs on manned aircraft.

Airmen are eligible for pay retroactive to Jan. 29.

The program pays enlisted sensor operators who work with Predator and Reaper pilots the same amount as other enlisted airmen receiving “career enlisted flier incentive pay” such as loadmasters and aerial gunners, said Chief Master Sgt. Victor Allen, career field manager for enlisted aviators. About 400 airmen qualify now.

The pay starts at $150 a month for enlisted airmen with less than four years of flying time and increases to $400 for airmen with 14 years or more.

Allen hopes the additional pay encourages more airmen to volunteer for the assignment and convinces those already on duty to stay in.

The pay also ends inequities among airmen doing the same job, Allen said. For example, a gunship sensor operator who was transferred to fly Predators already received career enlisted flier incentive pay. Now, 1U airmen with no prior aircraft assignments get incentive pay, too.

For the 18X pilots, incentive pay starts at $125 a month for officers with less than two years of flying time and rises to $188 monthly for pilots with more than three years flying remote-controlled aircraft.

Less than 30 pilots qualify because the 18X training program has graduated only two classes.

The incentive pays are in addition to re-enlistment bonuses and other financial extras offered to airmen flying remote-controlled aircraft.