In Oz the ratings may expire, the licence however remains valid in perpetuity.

WWW you´re absolutely spot on and I´d just like to back up what you´re saying.

The wiseman would probably leave it for a couple of years before starting training and then spend a couple more training and be ready to go when the airlines pick up again in probably 4 years or so.

To start training now is to throw money down the drain unless you´ve got another job and can take it nice and slow whilst still working.

Just an opinion, that´s hopefully spelt right ;)

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Agreed, WWW. Civil Aviation is not going to recover soon, if ever. It will still exist, but not in the way it has been in the 80's, 90's, and early noughties.

The way the world's shaping, a job as a military pilot may be the best route to getting paid for flying an aircraft. And maybe also getting paid for shooting at aircraft and being shot at! (I'm not being flippant).

I wish I didn't believe in what I have written. Hopefully I am utterly wrong. Time will tell.

Thanks for the advice on the spellings and for the contribution on the subject matter. Now lets focus on the subject matter.
It is obvious that there are a lot of pilots out of work worldwide and now is not the time to be looking for a job. However, it may be a good time to be training (if you have the $). I have spoken to a few pilots recently and their outlook seems positive. The general feeling is that the industry will pick up again and once it starts to pick up it will do so pretty fast. The million dollar question is when, 18 months, 4 yrs? I guess nobody can tell until it happens. :ugh: