A 'fully qualified electrical engineer' and 30K saved up all at the age of 20, you've been a busy chap. Don't waste your opportunity. Read these words carefully or they WILL ring in your ears. LEAVE IT FOR THE MOMENT. I agree whole heartedly to train while the economy is down. Wait until Jan 2011 I'd say at a guestimate. 6 months of GS takes you to July - as good as the weather will get for CPL and VFR stuff. Then IR and a small wait until the bulk of airline recruiment starts in the following winter months Jan 2012. And in the meantime you could make that 30K into 35-40K.