Pushing forty is a hard time to start flight school. What happiens if another 9/11 or something else blows up? After 9/11, airlines all but stoped hirring. If you look at aviationinterviews.com and go back to 2001 and 2002 you will see pilot's flight time in the 3000 hour range. That's to fly a 1900 or a Dash 8 If something like that happiens agian, you'll be a CFII for 2000 hours. However, I to understand the dream to fly. When I was a CFII and a older student came to me, we had this talk to make sure he or she understood. Good luck....