B Sousa: I take what you're saying about the longterm security, degree etc. I'm probably in a better situation than many considering retraining for CPL because I have a degree, have built up an ok pension thus far, and have the equity in my house to pay for the qualifications without getting into debt with a fair bit left over. (Ok so the private pension will be stunted a bit if I don't find someway to keep it up, but it's a start.)
However, all would not be lost because post CPL I could always go back to writing software (I work in very specialised military field) if I needed to and I'd have a good £40k left over to put back into a house. (I'll just have to live somewhere cheaper than I do now, or get somewhere smaller than I'm used to. And I'm also looking at joining up with my mum to invest that in rental property to provide a safety net.)
So, worst case is I take a couple of years to follow a dream and then go back to doing what I've spent a decade getting good at if it turns out I'm a bad instructor or no-one will give me any work. No real loss and I'd have had a nice foreign adventure to boot. (Plus there's even a good chance my current employer would take me back part time or on a contract basis.)
I guess the bottom line is, yes I would dearly like to make a career out of it, but I feel I'm well-placed to go back without having lost too much if I don't.
Camp Freddie: I know what you mean, my heart tells me to go for it, but my brain also tells me not to.
It's funny. So many people I talk to about this light up and say "you only live once, god if I had the chance to go back and even have a shot at becoming a professional heli pilot... go do it!" except pilots, who seem to say "you only life once, for god sake don't become a pilot"!!
Regards,
Si