Very interesting reading there guys. When I was a bit younger, and still dreaming of getting into this flying gig, a very experienced pilot asked me what I would like to do if I couldn't fly?
He sat me down before I spent a single cent on flying, and laid the whole industry out, there were probably two good things about it, but hundreds of bad things about it. By asking what I would like to do, if I couldn't fly, was his way of telling me to get some skills (ie a trade or a degree and practical experience in that behind me) before I thought about flying.
As I have experienced in my short time in the industry, I have seen three mates, all under the age of 30 loose their medicals, one for have a single unexplained migraine headache, two for head injuries sustained in different car crashes. They had no other skills or qualifications, so when they lost their jobs, there was nothing for them to do, but go and pump petrol, or work behind a bar... Not the ideal career. But it might not be a medical problem, as Ochre Insider has said, a massive recession in the aviation industry will have massive job cuts. If you're fired by Cathay or Emirates, then there is a good chance QANTAS or Air NZ are doing the same. Now what are you going to do with your life?
Me.. Well I know how to build and program computers, its what my first degree is in, my second degree is what I'm doing part time, while working now is Aviation Management. I've almost finished that one too. So if I lose my job, or can't carry on in this industry I've got options in front of me, it would be tragic to have to walk away from flying, but its not everything for me anymore. How many people entering flying training today have got other skills or qualifications to use if they can't fly anymore?