Copter, you say corporate is better than north sea? You talking money or b*llox?
I work offshore as a co-pilot, not really a secret who I am anymore and my salary isn't that great but i'm at the bottom of the ladder.
£75k? Yes, prob about right for a first year Captain.
I'm home in my own bed every night. Nice mixture of early shifts and late shifts, overtime available sometimes if I want it but not too bothered, and working about 18-20 days a month, give or take.
Ok, it's all multi crew and not for everyone, but it beats driving 300miles a day to instruct for £150 (if the wx doesn't go pants/student doesnt turn up/aircraft goes tech/delete as appropriate)
I can be finished by 1pm and have the day free when on earlies. Can't complain really.
As for Flying Pencil, I believe he can only be on two a/c for the AOC (forgive me if i'm wrong), but I bet he's expected to be at work all week, rain or shine, unpaid if not flying, taxed at source, not paid a retainer (well maybe a small one) and on a crap hourly flying rate and exected to sweep the hangar and do office type !!!!!. If he makes £30k a year i'd be very surprised.
Now it's also possible his company really knows how to look after it's staff! NOT!! They probably pay him 0.1hrs less than the datcon time too.
He won't have an IR or else he'd be sitting pretty well in a nice corporate role and certainly wouldn't be where he is right now.
It's all horses for courses and what someone refuses to do, will be done by someone who thinks they are on to a winner. Sad but true. This industry won't change.