As everyone is saying, go for it - OK so the job market isn't as good as it was - but the business is cyclical and it'll come back.. .. .If you don't try it now, you'll always wonder. . .. .I was lucky enough to get a "big cheque" from my employer last year and signed up for a PPL at Oxford (I had many years on gliders before that) followed by their Full Time Modular course.. .. .I'm doing the ground school at present - quality of the teaching / books etc. is very good. For about £ 5.5 K for 7 months the cost isn't too bad and it's the same quality as the full time sponsored students get. . .. .Flying training looks expensive, but they run a satellite operation in Tyler (Texas) which would help if you are free to travel. The PPL school at OAT is good (albeit expensive) although they have been "poor cousins" of the commercial school for too long.. .. .OAT run open days every month or so. Adverts in Flight International etc. . .. .Best of luck...