As a 33 y.o FE, I have had to think long and hard about the future. Even before the exceptional events of recent weeks, FE's had a maximum of five years career left.
I seriously considered training for a JAA CPL, (I have FAA CPL). However theres no way I'm investing £30k+ so I can get ripped off and treated like s**t at a "professional" flying school and then do a thousand hours on night mail/freight flights in some f*ck*d old turboprop in order to get enough experience to get back on to a jet!! Thanks but no thanks, there was a time but not anymore. Thankfully I still have a job right now, but when my employer calls it a day with a 3 crew machine then I'm off to run a pub!! Old aviation proverb- "Professional flying is like banging your head repeatedly against a brick wall...it feels good when you stop"!! Anyway best wishes to all you wannabee's out there, I achieved my ambition to be a FE, I hope you all achieve yours.
[ 28 September 2001: Message edited by: basil fawlty ]