Original Message

Helicopters that carry 150-400 people, helicopter pilots won't ever make close to the airlines pilots.  Having said that, if you are paying for the risk factor, helicopter pilots should be paid higher than airline pilots.  The majority of helicopter pilots are single engine with many often times operating over terrain where there is no where to go if the engine quits, don't fly to/from big runways, most outside of EMS and offshore twins don't have autopilots, many jobs require off airport landings sometimes at night depending on the industry, are single pilot, don't have a dispatcher doing your W&B and flight planning, are not on an IFR flight plan for virtually every flight and talking to ATC; etc.