Hi DJB,
To get into the flight deck you require something called a CPL/IR at a minimum with ATPL Theoretical Knowledge otherwise known as a "frozen ATPL".
There are many ways to go about gaining the licence but the two main routes are as follows:
1) Integrated Training Course
2) Modular Training Course
The integrated training course takes you ab-initio from no previous knowledge / flying skills to a CPL/IR fATPL with around 250 hours total time in around 70 weeks duration. It is very expensive, look at around £70,000 from start to finish.
The modular training course takes a little longer (normally) but you pay as you go and can mix and match where you carry out each stage of your training.
The route goes something like this:
1) Private Pilots Course
2) Hour Building - Ie fly 100 hours as you require 150 Hours to start your Commercial Flying Course.
3) ATPL Theoretical Modular course. Either residential or distance learning. Do not underestimate the amount of work involved. Over the two modules you'll have 7 exams in each (14 in total). You can carry out the studying while hour building.
4) Commercial Flight Training Course.
5) Instrument Rating Course (on a Multi Engine Aeroplane - the expensive bit).
6) Multi Crew Co-Operation / Crew Resource Management Course
You'll probably end up with about 250 hours with the modular route as well. BUT it normally works out cheaper this way as compared to the integrated option. But you still need to budget for £30,000 to £40,000 to complete the training.
Then you'll have to try and find a job with the thousands of other qualified pilots (many of them with thousands of hours on jet aircraft who were made redundant after Sep 11). So you're probably want to get yourself a Flight Instructors rating as well so you can at least fly and get paid for it. But even flight instructor jobs are hard to come by because most other qualified people are doing the same! ;-)
As for airlines sponsoring prospective pilots... forget it since 11/9. Even BA who recruited 100 cadets or so a year for sponsorship have stopped doing so.
I'm not even going to comment on the "is it really that easy?" question. Work it out for yourself.
Best of luck,
Charlie Zulu