Thursday, 24 July 2014

Meet Nigeria's youngest pilot - he's only 19!

According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Daniel Adeyileka (pictured above) is the youngest pilot in Nigeria.

He was born in 1995 in Newcastle, England and had his primary and secondary education in Scotland then came back to Nigeria to do his A-levels. At 17, he proceeded to Delta Flight school in Texas, USA, where he obtained his Private Pilot License (PPL) and his International General Certificate of Secondary Education. He is currently a First Officer.

#Beinspired. You're never too young to pursue your dreams. Read more about Daniel after the cut...

Kindly do a little bit of introduction?
Daniel Adeyileka

My name is Daniel Adeyelika; I was born on the 6th of February 1995 in Newcastle, England. I have spent most of my life in the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Nairn, Scotland and other countries abroad. I had my elementary education in Rose Bank Primary School, Nairn, Scotland, from there I moved to Grantown Grammar School also in Scotland where I completed my secondary school. In 2008, I came back to Nigeria and enrolled into Avicenna International School, Ikeja, GRA. I finished in 2009. I equally obtained my A-Levels in Greenville School, GRA. It was right after my A-Levels that I went straight to flying school in America

Where did you train?
I did my flight training in Texas, Dallas with Delta Flight School for nine (9) months. I knew I went there for a reason and not to play, I needed all the concentration, I go to school from Monday to Sunday. My Private Pilot License (PPL) was for one and a half month and my International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was for three years.

During your training, were you teased for being the youngest in your class?
I was never teased but I was the youngest in my class and got along with everybody but there was a time I could not write certain exams due to my age, there were restrictions. I was asked to wait until I turned 18 years before I can do my commercial, so I was just reading all through those periods.

What were your challenges during training?
The challenge basically was when I was sent to Amsterdam for my Type Rating, it was really the toughest period I cant lie to you because it was not an easy task. I actually thought I was going to fail because I was the weakest in the class at the beginning but I came top of the class at the end. I kept telling my self “I can do it.” God really saw me through. The exercise lasted for one month. The challenge basically was when I was sent to Amsterdam for my Type Rating, it was really the toughest period I cant lie to you because it was not an easy task. I actually thought I was going to fail because I was the weakest in the class at the beginning but I came top of the class at the end. I kept telling my self “I can do it.” God really saw me through. The exercise lasted for one month.

What is your present position?
In the cockpit I am a first officer but salary level is second officer but it doesn’t really matter.

On which aircraft are you type rated?
A.Boeing 737 600 series to 900 series.