Meet Suleiman Dida, the UK’s youngest Somali pilot, whose journey is as inspiring as it is groundbreaking. From his early dreams of soaring through the skies to earning his wings,
Suleiman’s story reflects not only his passion for aviation but also his determination to break barriers and inspire future generations.
1. When did you start your aviation career?
I started my aviation career 2.5 years ago when I was 14 and did my first solo at 16, making me the youngest Somali pilot in the UK to fly a plane by himself! I was super into aviation since I was 5 years old, it was always the dream and this made me start to fly super young as I got the funds saved since I was in primary school. Training to be an airline pilot is so expensive, and hence why I’m grateful for my younger mindset of saving to afford to train since young. I’m currently about to start navigation, and then after that, I will tackle my ATPLS as I want to do dual, which consists of 26 ATPL exams, and I’m mentally getting prepared for it. I am planning to achieve the goal of being an airline pilot at 21 years old, making me the youngest airline pilot in the UK or the world!
2. What made you choose to pursue a career in the Aviation industry?
I grew my passion from visiting airports as a young child and this motivated me to become an airline pilot. My mum and dad always used to take me to airports as a kid to pick up my siblings or travel for holidays. I always looked at the pilots walking down the airport in a way that just made them eye-catching, and the planes flying from the terminal impressed me with how such a big thing could just stay in the air. Since then, I thought “Yes! I want to do that!” and achieve the dream. It was also from flight simulators that I got my passion from. I use flight simulators way too much. I have one built inside my room, and I use it with Vatsim, which is virtual air traffic control. This not only makes it fun but also makes me a better pilot. Using both techniques made me want to embark on a career as an airline pilot.
3. What path are you taking to embark on an Aviation career?
I am currently taking the Modular route, as I am taking my PPL right now. Then after that, I will start my ATPLS while hour building. I need 150 hours to do what I need to do next, which is CPL, MEP, MEIR, and APS MCC. I will be flying the Boeing 738 with Ryanair as I got a conditional offer with them, and I will be bonded with them for 4 years, as I’m getting my type rating bonded. After this, I will hopefully move to long-haul with Qatar Airways flying the triple 7, but I’m still thinking about that. My advice for aspiring Airline pilots is to research many other paths, as everyone is different financially and physically, and you may need to work while training. This industry requires a lot of hard work and,, most importantly, passion. There are a lot of paths structured differently for personal recommendations.
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4. Give us an overview of what you do on an average day in your role.
I have recently completed my circuits training and just have glide approaches left to master. This involves cutting the power and landing the aircraft without any thrust. It’s interesting but quite rare. I completed my first solo flight in a PA-28-140 on 4th August—a day I will never forget, and any other pilot wouldn’t either. I am about to start navigation training, which teaches pilots how to fly a plane from point A to point B. This is the final stage of training.
As a pilot, you bear significant responsibilities, including flying the aircraft and being constantly aware of the current weather, checking NOTAMs, etc. It’s a job that involves managing stress effectively. I am currently studying for my ATPLs, as I have the books and usually sit down to read, take notes, and create flashcards with numerous equations to remember. It’s really tough, but in the end, I believe it will be worth it. To secure a job with top airlines, good ATPL results are essential. For example, British Airways requires first-time passes with 85% or more. That’s why I started studying for them early, at just 16 years old.
5. What do you most love about your job/aviation?
I love Aviation! Being an Airline pilot with all that responsibility of flying a multi-pound jet at high speeds, cruising at high altitudes - it’s just sensational. It’s something I’ve dreamed about as a kid, and I’m now working towards it every day. Airline pilots definitely get one of the best office views - it’s the best job in the world. In my opinion, nothing can beat the experience. In addition, the salary is good compared to other jobs, so it’s the best job for me, in my opinion, and it’s always in my head that I can’t stop thinking about it.
6. What are your goals for the future?
My goal for the future is to be flying long-haul, hopefully for Qatar Airways, Emirates, or Ethiopian Airlines. I really love the Boeing 777 for the long haul and the 738 for the short haul, so for the future, it will hopefully include those planes. My other goal is to inspire other young people who want to be airline pilots.
You need to be good at maths and physics, especially understanding forces and electricity in and out, so people who want to be Pilots need to make sure they work hard in school! The most important goal is to tell aspiring pilots never to give up and work hard.
That's a wrap from me - see you in the skies!
