Cost - minimum £35,000 probably quite a lot more. Try a search of this forum for a guide to obtaining a licence (for a breakdown of the process) - no doubt SCROGGS will be along soon to complain about you not having done so already.
Expect it to take at least 1 year to obtain a licence - probably longer. You will be approaching 40 by the time you have completed training and that will make job hunting harder.
Expect it to take a long time to obtain your first job - unless you can buy a type rating (another £10-20,000 depending upon aircraft type).
How long it takes to pay back depends on your salary now and the salary you get as a First Officer - probably a minimum of 5 years, nearer 10 (especially if you have to give up working whilst training).
Job hunting? Well, I'd love to have the answer. Hard work, lots of applications, knowinhg someone in a position of authority.
Last edited by moggiee; 12th Aug 2006 at 00:19.