salaries
The amount of money paid is purely economics - nothing at all to do with the intrinsic value of the work. If it were a fair world, teachers, nurses and paramedics (just 3 jobs of the top of my head) would be paid far more than any pilot - or footballer for that matter.
I think that pilots and engineers should be on the same pay.
The offshore pay increase was purely down to the threat of strike action about 8 years ago. Nothing to do with the demands/dangers/skills of the job. When Scotia was formed, and Bond were forced out of the north sea for 3 years back in 2003/4, there were only 2 UK offshore helicopter companies. This gave the pilots the oportunity to make a stand over pay, which had gradually been eroded over the preceeding years. Like any job, the offshore pilots get paid what they can force the companies to pay them : it's no more complex than that, and certainly doesn't indicate any value to the work beyond the monetary one.
Andy