At 16, he flew solo. At 18, he’s chasing the captain’s seat. Meet the young pilot changing representation in British aviation.
At 18 years old, Suleiman Dida has already crossed one of aviation’s most defining thresholds: flying solo. Born in northwest London to parents from Mogadishu, Dida is now recognized as the United Kingdom’s youngest Somali pilot — a milestone in a field where Somali representation has historically been rare.
His fascination with flight began in childhood, watching uniformed pilots stride through terminals during family trips. That early curiosity turned into disciplined preparation. From his bedroom, he built a home flight simulator and logged hours on VATSIM, an online network that mirrors real-world air traffic control communications. It allowed him to practice navigation, phraseology and cockpit procedures long before stepping into a real aircraft.
He began formal flight training at 14. By 16, he completed his first solo flight in a Piper PA-28-140 — a moment widely regarded as one of the most demanding psychological tests for any pilot in training. Taking off, flying circuits and landing without an instructor onboard requires complete control and confidence.
Now working toward his Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Dida continues building hours in single-engine aircraft while preparing for the rigorous academic demands ahead. In the UK, aspiring commercial pilots must pass 14 Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theoretical exams covering subjects from meteorology to aerodynamics — a hurdle many describe as among the toughest in aviation.
The path is also expensive. Training can exceed £100,000. Rather than enroll in a full-time academy program, Dida chose the modular route, completing qualifications in stages while managing costs. He began saving toward training expenses while still in primary school.
He has secured a conditional offer with Ryanair to fly the Boeing 737-800 once he completes required certifications and flight hours — a potential first step into commercial aviation.
Long term, his ambitions stretch further. He hopes to command wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 for global carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates or Ethiopian Airlines. And if Somalia’s national airline returns, he says he would welcome the chance to fly for his country of heritage.
“I didn’t see Somali pilots out there,” he said. “So I wanted to change that.”
Dida’s journey remains in its early stages — still grounded in classrooms and light aircraft rather than airline cockpits. But for many watching, his progress signals a shift: a new generation stepping into industries once seen as out of reach.
“See you in the skies,” he says — and he means it.
