Not a direct answer to the question I know, but the cost of training in other professions is as high, if not higher, than pilot training.
Students take out loans whilst at University and (usually) employers provide on-going training to meet the requirements of the various professional bodies.
Membership of a professional institution is normally achieved after five to seven years.
There's not that much difference with flying really - the 'student' pilot takes out a loan for the basic qualification and the employer completes the training with a type rating and line training.
It may appear that pilots are well paid, in some cases earning in excess of £100k a year. But for the lifestyle, un-social working hours and general stress it's not much recompense really. Most don't earn that amount at all.
Most professionals in their 40s and 50s earn an equivalent sum, assuming they are reasonably successful in their chosen profession, particulary when the overall 'package' is taken into account. The top professionals obviously earn far higher than that.
It is interesting, but the job of an airline pilot is classed as an 'associate professional or technical occupation' and not a 'professional occupation'.
In that sense maybe the pay isn't that bad?!
SITW
