Without doubt the beacon of sense here is, TheHustler.
Having been there done that, bought the t-shirt and completeted the exams. I can tell you now, it is filled up with dreamers who are now very much in debt and a lot of them are very much unemployed.
I think the CAA should actually approach people on the street and ask them if they want to fly for a living, if they say "No" well they already show common sense and should be brought to the next stage.
And as for all the romantic poets who say "Follow your dream"
how about you get used to following the social welfare que first?
Or have all your possesions reposesed.
If you have a family already, forget about it alltogether, just cause you are having a mid life crises, no need to drag them into it by putting such huge strain and financial hardship on them.
Civil Aviation is filled with dreamers who didn't like the office job and bought themselves licences, unfortunately there is no test in the medical to see if they have a few screws loose.
So civil aviation now has quite a fair few eccentric dreamers.
If you dream of being unemployed and broke, save yourself a lot of hassle. buy yourself a cardboard box and move out on the streets, donate everything to charity, it will give you a clearer concience then giving it away to huge flight training organisations or massive airliners.
If you are thinking of getting into it, don't!!
Fly privately, much more fun, even if you feel that you should be making money from it, resist the urge, you will only loose more then you will make.
Remember this.