This is a very interesting thread topic and hits the nail right on the head for my current situation.
Phil / taxis - I'm in the same boat.
- 29 years old at the moment - turning 30 soon
- got my PPL at 17 /18 in the United States thinking I wanted to be a career pilot (had dreamed of an airline pilot career since age 7)
- by 18 decided for various reasons to take a different approach (figured I'd find a way to become rich and just buy my own plane if I wanted to fly)
- ending up going to one of the best UK universities and studied Economics
- Decided to go into investment banking because "that was the thing to do" , people were making loads of money (this was 2005/2006) and admittedly the work sounded pretty cool (except the thought of 100 hour working weeks)
- Plan A was moving along fine...up until 2008 when the City fell flat on its face. I'm lucky given I've survived the whole mess of the last few years and have built up a solid capital base for someone my age
- the innate desire to be an airline pilot (which I've suppressed for the last 10+ years) keeps resurfacing (and ever more loudly given it's pretty much now or never).
Having been reviewing these message boards for well over the past year - my conclusion is it's not worth the risk and financial outlay of switching careers to become a pilot if you're already in a high paying job in a different industry which you at least somewhat enjoy. With one exception. Unless (and only unless) you are lucky enough to secure a place on a sponsored integrated scheme where you basically are guaranteed a job so long as you pass the 18-24 months of training.
Surely someone in there very early 30s, with solid work experience behind them, with the corresponding level of maturity and professionalism and with the right pilot training and skills can be a very attractive proposition to an airline employer. You can still have a solid 25 year career ahead of you. But it is now or never for myself / Phil / taxis and others in a similar situation