Pilot Wesam Al Najjar who is renowned for being “The First & Youngest Saudi Pilot to Fly an A380,” was born and raised in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia. He was raised in a setting that fostered knowledge acquisition and was strongly urged to continue learning and to help others. After completing his studies at the private school, he relocated to the UK in London to sharpen his English language skills. One of the most well-known economists and a co-founder of significant investment firms in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Dr. Mukhtar Ballol was his uncle who died in the year 2021. He is the author of several books on economics. He supported and encouraged him as he decided to pursue a career as a pilot. He was also inspired by his brother Captain Wadi Al Najjar of the A320 since they started their careers together. Pilot Wesam decided to move to the UAE to begin his piloting career. He started getting training on small aircraft at Horizon International Flight Academy, in Al Ain UAE. He earned his highest-level aircraft pilot certificate and airline transport pilot license with an oxford aviation programs in the year 2012. He began working for one of the largest and most rapidly expanding airlines in aviation history, Etihad Airways, in Abu Dhabi.
In 2013, he began his journey with Airbus aircraft fleets while working for Etihad Airways as a second officer. He has piloted an A318, A319, A320, A330, A330 Cargo, and an A380. He had a wonderful opportunity to fly jet aircraft toward regional destinations when he joined the A320 family. Flying an A330 cargo was a little different from flying a passenger plane, but he enjoyed moving the large amount of cargo around the globe and had the chance to gain more knowledge of cargo operations. When he was given the chance to participate in the Saudi National Day in September 2018, a new chapter in his life began. He was chosen to co-pilot Etihad Airways’ largest passenger aircraft, the A380, on a special flight from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah. Because he was the first and youngest Saudi Arabian pilot to fly an A380, this flight made Pilot Wesam famous throughout the entire world. Additionally, this title elevated him to the status of an example in the aviation sector. He will always be grateful to his family, Etihad Airways, the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for giving him this chance.
Flown to more than 100 cities around the world Pilot Wesam has 6000 flying hours from East to West, North to South, across numerous routes, and with various operations including the North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Europe, China, Africa, and Middle East. He loves his job a lot and he said:
“I will always be proud to carry the name of my country and raise the flag of my nation.”
Q.) You were selected and awarded the title “First and youngest Saudi Arabian pilot to fly A380.” What difference has this title made to your life and career?
Pilot Wesam: I never thought I’d be given the honor of being the “First and Youngest Saudi Arabian Pilot to Fly A380.” My life has always been centered around doing my duty with complete professionalism and responsibility. My life and career were significantly changed by this title because it gave me international recognition.
Q.) What were the challenges you faced while becoming a pilot?
Pilot Wesam: In the beginning, I encountered challenges as I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a pilot, but I was confident that there would always be a way around them, so I applied positive thinking and perseverance to achieve my objectives. Concentration, effort, and diligence are crucial. Beginnings are challenging, but endings are simple.
Q.) Let us know about your first solo flight.
Pilot Wesam: My first solo flight took place on a day when I spent an hour flying a Cessna 172 around the airport in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It was a wonderful experience brimming with vitality and zeal.
Q.) What would you say about your life as a pilot?
Pilot Wesam: My life as a pilot is exciting and adventurous. Every day is different for me because I get to fly the airplane and experience various types of weather while working with various teams on various routes and runways. Even though I have a busy schedule during some seasons, I occasionally have free time to relax at home. In my role as a pilot, I learn something new about aviation, new contemporary technologies used in the industry, about the cultures of various nations.
Q.) What you do to stay active and relaxed before flying the plane?
Pilot Wesam: At home, I take a lot of time to relax, get plenty of sleep, go for a walk, and eat light but healthy meals because a pilot should always go active and in a good mood. The aviation regulations give us the limits to be in a window of resting time, how to make it flexible enough i.e., managing sleeping time and preparation time is in our hands.
Q.) What makes a good pilot?
Pilot Wesam: I’ll say “Preparation” in a single word. In aviation, we have to be ahead of the fast-moving planes. The secret to being a good pilot is to always “Be Prepared.” Good preparation yields good results. “Preparation before Execution.”
Q.) What is the greatest change in aviation that you find throughout your pilot career?
Pilot Wesam: Transformation in Operations and the aviation HR sector is moving toward efficiency and digitalization to make things run more smoothly for upcoming opportunities to help airline companies to achieve their objectives. Technology has undergone a massive change; in Saudi Arabia, the most recent technological programs are being used to pursue the 2030 vision in the growth of the aviation industry.
Q.) What are the different types of passengers?
Pilot Wesam: Depending on regions and cultures, there are various kinds of passengers. Airline companies maximize their concept of services by observing the passengers to achieve a mixed culture operation, make their journey easy and accessible at any time, and provide them with priceless memories before, during, and after the flight. People’s behavior varies depending on the services they receive during the flight. As a result, all arrangements are made in accordance with the needs of the passengers, making it simple to accommodate passengers onboard. Airline companies care about the needs and requirements of passengers both at the Airport and Onboard in order to keep this industry motivated and active.
Q.) Is the airline industry evolving in Saudi Arabia? And if so, how?
Pilot Wesam: Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic and the fastest pace of technological advancement, aviation worldwide is going through a period of rapid development and transformation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making a lot of effort and progress with all of its available energy. With the ongoing assistance of our supreme leader, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and His Excellency the Minister of Transportation, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, are working hard to achieve the goals in terms of air travel, which include improving logistics, providing passengers with an unforgettable experience, opening doors for international travel, etc. Recently, Riyadhair, a new company in Riyadh, was announced. As members of the aviation industry’s, we as a young generation, have admiration and hope for the future. We are a part of this entity’s growth and development as we forge ahead into the future of air travel.
Q.) What stage are airlines currently in?
Pilot Wesam: The airlines will have many great opportunities to enter the market with the force of quality, price, environment, and high employment to achieve their objectives during the following ten years. Many global airlines have already met their strategic objectives and took advantage of the opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. Large corporations have the resources and qualified personnel to identify, develop, and take advantage of present opportunities. When I think of innovation in this industry, I visualize harmony and cooperation between the commercial departments of some businesses, which sometimes travel independently from one another in order to find the best slot of mechanism for a given combination of quality, timing, and cost. Next to the planes and the training, the aircrafts are now divided according to time, price, and services. Small planes fly off-peak times, big planes fly on-peak times, low-cost planes fly in cities with little traffic, high-cost planes fly in cities with lots of traffic. The fact that the world is circular and has distinct time zones benefits the airline industry.
Q.) Any advice for aspiring pilots?
Pilot Wesam: Always pursue your dream and strive. If you want to become a pilot, just go for it and do your best. Nothing is impossible in life. Put in the effort necessary to achieve your goals because anything that is driven by force produces a reaction. In life, always be optimistic.
“We should take every flight as our first flight.
Respect life, Respect duty, understand Procedures.”
– Pilot Wesam Al Najjar.
By: Rida Khan
Aviation Author
(Instagram A/c: aviationauthor.ridakhan )
