The second in command may well have to wrestle with the controls and safely land the plane from a 31,000ft terror dive saving all on board after the Captain collapses but let's be honest.....it doesn't exactly happen often,does it?
Bymonek:
If thats all you think the FO is there for, you're knowledge of flying is somewhat limited. A bit surprising as your profile claims you have an ATPL.
The bottom line is that the primary objective of every flight is to get from A to B as safely as possible. Whether Joe Bloggs in 10C gets the drink he wants, when he wants is a very distant second to this objective. Seeing as the FO plays a far greater role in achievement of this objective, and given that the non-functionability of the FO is far more prejudicial to flight safety than a non-functioning CSD, there can be no question of whom should attract the greater salary. Whether the FO has 200 hours or 5000 does not change this fact.
This is leaving aside all the other rather obvious arguments to do with the constant checking, the much higher accountability, the length and expense of the training etc etc.
Good luck to all CC who manage to make more than pilots, but the fact is that it is a serious flaw in the system that allows this to happen.