Warrant Officers
This is just for gouge ref how the Army works too...
Birdman
BTV
Warrant Officers also have command billets in the Army. They are at the CW5 or CW4 level and are commanding flying detachments in Iraq and Afghanistan. However Warrants are technical officers and stay flying for their carreer. Warrants are also commissioned officers above the rank of CW2. This allows the command billeting among other duties. Pay at CW5 is generally better than O5. But it takes a long time to get the rank if ever.What you speak of is exactly what the warrant officer program is all about in the Army. Retain pilots in a lower pay rate with no upward promotion. Navy and Air Force have been more geared toward line officers only, although in the past the Navy has had flying warrant officer pilots in non-tactical airplanes.
Line officers are supposed to be leaders of troops into battle. You need some that have professional background to understand the decisions that they would be making later on. Do you want a general or admiral making decisions about airplane policy and tactics without any good background. CDR's in the Navy have attained enough experience and demonstrated enough leadership that they should be leading something, not just flying airplanes. At least that is the Navy's position.
This is just for gouge ref how the Army works too...
Birdman
BTV