Another financing avenue which occured to me last night whilst watching the Prince of Wales programme on ITV was to approach the Princes Trust for a grant! Do a great business plan detailing how you intend to use your FI skills to better your career (why not pop in some cobblers about helping out unprivilaged inner city kids with incentives for schools & flying vouchers type deal in collaboration with a local charity and flying club?) and see where it gets you....
VFE - I just love your angle. Forget the airlines - you'll end up owning and running a FTO before you know. You have the force!