Age is nothing but a number.
I'm 42, and commenced my PPL a couple of years ago after deciding that I needed to do something that genuinely interested me for the remainder of my working life. The way I figure it. I've been working for nearly 20 years post education and I've got al least another 20 years of potential career ahead of me, PPL in hand as backup for the modular approach, I'm also applying to cadet programmes.
I've been through the speedbird process twice, falling agonisingly short on both occasions. Don't get me wrong it's tough but with the right attitude, enough determination and personal belief it can happen and has happened. As other have eluded to, the biggest question is how much does he want it...?