General Information
Rule 5 (Contributions to the Fund), Rule 12 (Cessation of Membership)
When paying in full, Annual Contributions are due and payable on the 1st day of May each year. Members who fail to pay their Contributions by May 31st shall be deemed to have allowed their membership to have lapsed and shall not be entitled to any benefit.
Rule 12 (Cessation of Membership), Rule 2 (Eligibility)
You must advise MBF Membership when you change your employment status.
A member may remain in the Fund for a period of three years while unemployed.
Following this three year period, if they have not gained employment as a pilot the member must resign from the Fund.
Providing they meet the criteria, a resigned member may be eligible to return to the Fund should they regain piloting employment.
An unemployed member must continue to hold a current Class 1 Medical Certificate and remain a member of AFAP.
Rule 2 (Eligibility)
You must hold a valid Class 1 Medical Certificate to remain a member, regardless of your current employment status.
Members are able to operate on an Overseas Medical Certificate, however all benefit claims are based on the failure of the Australian Class 1 Medical Certificate standards.
A valid commercial pilot’s licence is also required by those who are employed and either actively piloting or stood down (so that they are ready, willing and able to resume piloting activities).
If that is your principal source of income, yes.
Rule 5 (Contributions to the Fund)
Members are responsible for payment of their membership contributions.
If the employer does not pay on the member’s behalf, the member will be required to make payment and then pursue reimbursement from their employer.
No – there is no provision to place your MBF membership on ‘hold’.
There are options for you to voluntarily resign as a Member and return later, but you need to consider the terms and conditions of the Rules in respect of applying for or returning as a Member of the Fund.
If you have an accident or illness as a result of your non piloting employment, you must notify your employer and seek Work Cover through your employer. If you are unsuccessful in your Work Cover claim you may be eligible to make a claim on the MBF in accordance with the terms and conditions of Fund membership.
Rule 5 (Contributions to the Fund), Rule 2 (Reinstatement), Rule 12 (Cessation of Membership)
Members who are resigning from the Fund after 20 years of membership or 25 years in the case of a reinstated Member.
Members who have reached the age of 65 years.
The maximum amount of potential refund is limited to $65,000.
Payments are based on Standard Capital Benefit Contributions minus any monthly benefits paid and excludes GST.
Please contact MBF Membership to apply.
To maintain membership and to be eligible to apply for Disability Benefits and/or a Capital Payment you must be a financial member of AFAP (not an Associate Member).
Please contact MBF Membership by emailing membership@aapmbf.com.au or phone: 03 9928 4500.
Note that Members are unable to change/update their Employer details via MyPage.
Complete the MBF Voluntary Resignation Notification form found in ‘Member Documents’ in MyPage.
Please refer to FAQ 6 and consider the eligibility requirements if you are considering returning to the Fund.
Please refer to the current Contributions and Benefits Scale.
Contribution costs are based on a sliding scale depending on the level of Standard Capital Benefit the Member holds, the Member’s age at joining the MBF and the Member’s current age.
For some examples on how the Contributions and Benefits Scale works, please click the image below:
Please log into your MyPage member profile and click ‘Certificate of Membership’ button.
Loss of Licence Cover is not excluded for members whose Class 1 Medical Certificate has been affected due to having contracted the Virus, or have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
The AAPMBF Membership year ends 30 April for all members. Members are required to renew their membership when Renewals open on 01 May. Members are sent detailed communications and instructions prior to 1 May regarding the Renewal procedure.
Rule 5 (Contributions to the Fund)
To reduce cover when completing the Renewal, a member may remove the Premium Capital Benefit and must do that if they reduce their Standard Capital Benefit (SCB) from the maximum required.
The minimum cover a member can have is $100,000 SCB.
The Death Benefit cover cannot exceed the Standard Capital Benefit cover amount. Please be aware of the eligibility requirements should you wish to increase your cover at the time of subsequent Renewals.
Rule 3 (Application for Membership or Revised Benefits)
If a member is eligible to increase their cover and/or hold the maximum SCB that member may then add the Premium Capital Benefit (PCB).
Increases in cover for consideration under the COVID-19 Rule must be notified to MBF prior to 30 April.
An application for PCB is considered a new cover application and a Health Declaration is requested. Any increase in cover requires Board approval.
Rule 5 (Contributions to the Fund)
Contribution costs are based on a sliding scale depending on the level of Standard Capital Benefit the member holds, the member’s age when they joined MBF and the member’s current age (as at 01 May). Please refer to the current Contributions and Benefits Scale.
For some examples on how the Contributions and Benefits Scale works, please click the image below:
If you pay your annual contributions by monthly instalments and are seeking reimbursement from your Employer, please ensure your employer will accept monthly receipts. The AAPMBF can only issue tax invoice receipts for payments we have received.
MBF has confirmed a direct billing arrangement with some employers. This is referred to as a bulk billing arrangement. If an Employer allowance is shown in the breakdown of Contributions cost, then this is the amount that will be billed to your employer. The member is responsible for any costs over and above the allowance amount or where the allowance is not paid by the Employer in accordance with MBF payment terms.
Yes, all members regardless of their employment status must hold a valid Australian Class 1 Medical Certificate or overseas equivalent. You will be required to upload a copy of your Certificate in order to submit and complete the Renewal process.
Only members who are current Notifications or Claimants will be able to submit their Renewal without this evidence.
Note that members who are either a Notification or Claimant must still renew and be a member of the Fund in order to receive benefit payments. They must also remain a financial member of AFAP.
To meet your obligations under the Rules (11 (a)) you must notify the MBF within 30 days of any event or medical condition that has led to your Class 1 Medical Certificate being cancelled or suspended or which might reasonably be expected to prelcude you from flying. A Notification is not a Claim, but a ‘heads-up’ that you are currently grounded perhaps due to illness or injury and working on regaining your Class 1, without currently needing any assistance from the MBF.
Rule 1 – General: Waiting period
Once you’ve 'Notified' us that your Class 1 Medical Certificate has been cancelled or suspended you cannot receive funds from the MBF until you utilise all your sick leave and/or 90 days have passed since the incident or illness, whichever occurs last. The 90-day eligibility period is not paid.
Rule 7(n) – Disability Benefits: Commencement Date of Disability and Benefits
No, the MBF pays benefits from the day of the Board meeting at which your claim is approved. As required under the Rules your claim is then reassessed every month by the Board at its meeting to determine if you are still eligible to receive benefit payments.
Yes, as an Australian company the MBF is required to withhold tax on all monthly benefits paid, Therefore tax is deducted from your gross benefit amount – even if you are an overseas-based pilot and do not usually pay tax.
Rule 7(x)(y)(z)(aa) – Disability Benefits: Obligations of the Member.
Members and the Board must comply with the obligations under the AAPMBF Rules. The Board is assisted by its Fund Medical Advisers and in order to assess a claim medical evidence is required; for example reports from your GP, specialists, hospital admission and discharge summaries, and treatment plans.
To confirm that you are still unfit to fly you are required to provide a medical report every two months while receiving benefits.
Rule 6(g) – Exclusions: Third Party Claim Liability
No, you have to conclude your claim with WorkCover, the DVA, Traffic Accident Authority, or whatever statutory entity your event comes under, before you can make a claim with the MBF.
Rule 7(m) – Disability Benefits: Evidence of piloting income
The monthly benefit calculation is based on a combination of your level of Loss of Licence cover with the MBF and your gross annual salary (without allowances and superannuation). The MBF must have this confirmed by your employer. However, if you are unemployed or a contractor you may supply the last 3 years’ worth of tax returns, which are averaged to give a gross annual salary.
Rule 6(p) - Exclusions
It’s a requirement under the Rules that those psychiatric conditions covered by the MBF are confirmed by an independent psychiatrist – that is, not one that you have seen previously. This is something the MBF arranges and for which we meet all costs.
Once we receive the report from the psychiatrist your matter can go to the next Board meeting for assessment.
Loss of Licence Cover is not excluded for members whose Class 1 Medical Certificate has been affected due to having contracted the Virus, or have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
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The information on this website has been prepared by Austair Pilots Pty Ltd (ACN 005 111 731, AFSL 344259) as trustee of the Australian Air Pilots Mutual Benefit Fund (MBF). The information is of a general nature only, does not take into account your personal circumstances and is not intended to be relied upon as specific financial advice.
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MBF Trustee: Austair Pilots Pty Ltd AFSL: 344259