Sunday March 1, 2026
London (HOL) — At just 18 years old, Suleiman Dida has reached a milestone that many aspiring aviators spend years pursuing: a solo flight and recognition as the United Kingdom’s youngest Somali pilot.
Born on Dec. 2, 2007, in northwest London to parents from Mogadishu, Dida is part of a generation of young British Somalis entering professions where their community has traditionally been underrepresented including commercial aviation.
His interest in flying began early. As a child, trips to the airport to collect relatives or depart on family holidays left a lasting impression. He was drawn not only to the image of uniformed pilots moving through terminals, but to the mechanics of flight itself.
“I thought, yes, I want to do that,” he said.
That interest evolved into disciplined preparation. In his bedroom, Dida assembled a home flight simulator and logged hours on VATSIM, an online network that mirrors real-world air traffic control communications. The platform allowed him to practice aviation phraseology, navigation procedures and cockpit workflows before he began formal training.
In the United Kingdom, students can begin flight training in their mid-teens. Dida started at 14, placing him among the country’s youngest trainees. By 16, he completed his first solo flight in a Piper PA-28-140.
A first solo requires a student pilot to take full command of the aircraft without an instructor on board, managing takeoff, circuit patterns and landing independently. The exercise is widely regarded as one of the most demanding psychological thresholds in flight training.
Now 18, Dida continues to build experience in single-engine aircraft such as the Piper PA-28 while working toward professional certification.
The path to an airline cockpit in Britain is rigorous and expensive. Training costs can exceed £100,000, depending on the route taken. When Dida first shared his ambitions, his family’s immediate concern was financial viability.
Rather than abandon the plan, he opted for a modular training pathway, which allows students to complete qualifications in stages rather than enrolling in an integrated, full-time academy program. The modular route can offer greater financial flexibility and permits trainees to work alongside their studies. Dida began saving toward training costs while still in primary school.
He is currently taking his Private Pilot Licence (PPL). After qualifying, he must accumulate at least 150 hours of flight time before progressing to a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Subsequent steps include a Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) rating and a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR), enabling operations in multi-engine aircraft and in reduced-visibility conditions using cockpit instruments.
Alongside practical flying, Dida is preparing for the 14 Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theoretical examinations a comprehensive academic requirement covering meteorology, aerodynamics, navigation, aircraft systems, flight planning and human performance. The exams are widely considered among the most demanding components of pilot training, and competitive airlines often expect high first-time pass rates.
“Those exams are really tough to study. There are a lot of subjects, and the content is heavy,” he told HOL.
His recent training has included intensive circuit work repeated takeoffs and landings as well as glide approaches, which simulate engine power loss and require precise energy management. He is now preparing to begin cross-country navigation training, the final stage before completing his PPL.
“I didn’t see Somali pilots out there,” he said. “So I wanted to change that.”
He has secured a conditional offer with Ryanair to fly the Boeing 737-800 (B738), with a bonded type rating agreement for four years, a potential first step into commercial airline operations once he completes his required certifications and flight hours.
“Beyond short-haul operations, I dream of flying long-haul aircraft especially the Boeing 777—for major carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, or Ethiopian Airlines. And if Somalia’s national airline is revived one day, I would be proud to fly for my own country,” he said.
“My goal is to become a captain. “Aviation isn’t just a job,” he said. “It requires hard work and passion.”
Dida’s journey is still in its early stages. He is not yet in an airline cockpit, but in classrooms and light aircraft, methodically advancing through the industry’s structured and demanding training pipeline.
In a field where Somali representation has historically been limited, he hopes his progress will encourage others to consider careers once viewed as out of reach.
“See you in the skies,” he said.
Dida is part of a rising Somali-British generation making strides in highly competitive fields. Last week, 17-year-old football midfielder Maalik Hashi signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, marking a significant milestone in his development and underscoring the growing visibility of Somali heritage talent in British sport and beyond.