Timex, I am glad you are happy where you are, but if you didn't have that ex-mil pension,would you have gone to the north sea for better pay, even though it may not be everyone's cup of tea?????? Do you think a lot of people would have gone that way if they didn't have a pension to back them up??
Anyway,
There are also many civvies out there that have the required experience, I for one have lot's of onshore,day/night and other types of flying, achieved in various countries,and although I do enjoy my job in many ways, and have no plans to leave,in the future I wouldn't mind doing Hems for a bit, but I won't ACCEPT the substantially lower pay........Should you be paid the same?? In my honest opinion no, for some of the reasons you stated.....Should Hems/police pay substantially more than they are though?? Absolutely.(N.sea P1 72k-90+)............but they won't while people accept what they are offering. If there was no shortage of pilots to fly hems/police over the last few years, then the requirements wouldn't keep coming down so another reason for the pay to go up (which I know Bond have increased for Hems,but it is way too low still)!!!
PH.