There very well could be a pilot shortage, but whether that rings true here in the US is debatable. Clearly Latin America, China, and other up and coming nations will have a shortage and are going to need pilots. Many may come from the US because their pay and benefits will be more lavish.

You are 40 which isn't old to start but consider this. It's going to take you 4-5 years to make it to the cockpit of an airliner if you start today and dedicate nearly full time towards the training. Once here, based on today's data which could change for better or worse at anytime, are you prepared to sit at a regional airline for 10 years making between $25,000-$50,000 per year with poor benefits?

There is a family impact too you will have to weigh, there is an entire forum dedicated to this so you can read all that yourself.

Things are very fluid right now and truthfully nobody knows how things are going to unravel on a variety of fronts over the next month let alone the next few years. If you have been following this forum then you know what I mean.

My advice to you would be this. Get a private pilot license. Have it completed in the next 6 months. After that, you will have gained some new perspective in addition to a pilots license. At that point, re-evaluate your ambition again to see if you still think it is for you. If not, you still have a license for Saturday afternoon fun and expensive hamburgers.

James, I'm just 3 years older than you so if you want to private chat, feel free anytime.