I am a newcomer to this forum and in fact, I have not even started this "new career" yet, but I am doing my research so as not to enter this venture blindly (if I ever do) .

However, I am posting because I am confused. You complain that the flight school mislead you, but aren't all places like that? You don't recruit pilots by telling them how much they will earn on the first few years, if they even manage to land a job in the first place. You don't recruit pilots by showing them the paperwork they have to fill out. You don't recruit pilots by telling them of the near-death experiences of other pilots due to weather, maintenance, or other issues. It will be like advertising a flight school during a commercial break from a crash investigation program.

And then you say that you left the school "not fully trained and able to earn a living," and lack 100 hours flight time, yet you say you have been in aviation for 10 years. How did you get to earn $64/hour if you are not fully trained? How is $64/hour "not earning a living"? Did the school close it's doors on you? Or is the course supposed to run for more than 10 years?

I do not mean to be rude or to look down on you and I am genuinely confused with your post so I hope you can help me by clearing up those points. I am hoping to enter this field soon but I want to know the "lessons from others" so that I know what pitfalls to avoid.