NG Captain,
No, you are too old and thus do not meet the current EK recruitment requirements.
Sector Safe,
As far as hours is concerned, the basic minimum hours is not competetive with the current crop of applicants. However, if you have you application in the system and update it regularly, when you do become competetive you application will be looked at first because it has been in the system the longest.
Wet Power,
As far as increasing the command hours; there are no current plans.
Ghost