HOGE
If flying becomes boring, then it definately time to hang up the headset!
As for pressure on HEMS, I was a little unkind towards the control and paramedics. They do a fantastic job! The pressure was mainly self induced; You know what I mean: major RTA, child/children involved, weather crap, roads all snarled up with backed up traffic. Do you put that extra bit of effort in? Early on in a HEMS career you may well do so. After a few months, however, common sense prevails. Not to say that the decision to abort a mission is any easier, it isn't. In virtually all the cases when I turned back, it turned out that the incident wasn't as bad as first thought. I don't know how I would have felt if that had not been the case.
But I digress from the thread! North Sea ops are mundane. As someone has already said, 95% tedium with 5% terror! On a fine day, with everything going well, you can do the job standing on your head. But beware! As with all helicopter operations, something can go wrong at any time and, if your not awake, they will bite back hard! At least with onshore operations, you stand a chance of landing on terra firma. Offshore, your going for a swim!!
And pitchlink, you're spot on! The money is very good, and about to get better!!
bondu