NigelS and all the others,
I'm in a similar situation - 34 with 10 yrs of a strong career in the media behind me, but it's time to acknowledge the urge I've had since uni. I hope to start training in Sept'. I know these posts seem to crop up every 2 mins on this site, but from my research to date, airlines are very interested in those who have strong experience in business and management. There are many qualities that map across from our previous careers that can make you stand out from the crowd in the selection process - qualities that will not necessarily be learned during training. So good luck - I'd like to hear how you progress.