A FORMER member of cabin crew has realised his dream after qualifying as a commercial airline pilot.

Daniel Nice, of Brighton, now flies the Airbus A319 and A320 for EasyJet four to five times a week.

His regular destinations include many of Europe’s major capitals and he even goes as far as Egypt.

Mr Nice said: “It was my boyhood dream ever since I was very small. The opportunity to fly for an established company is fantastic.”

However, it was not an easy journey for the 30-year-old. He has worked and saved all his adult life for the £100,000-plus needed to become a qualified pilot.

At City College Brighton and Hove he studied for a tourism qualification to get into the aviation industry.

He became a junior cabin crew member at 18 and was ultimately promoted to cabin manager, all the while saving money.

He said: “Working in cabin crews was the best 12 years of my life. I had a lot of fun.

“For me, it was just good to get a foot in the door in the industry. It gave me a chance to get exposure working in an airline, learning how airlines work and getting used to the effect it has on your body clock.”

Even after being made redundant twice as a cabin crew, Mr Nice managed to stay in the industry.

His father, Ken, said: “His story illustrates that it is possible to achieve your dreams and to succeed at anything you wish if you are prepared to dedicate your life to it for as long as it takes.”

His love of flying came from a family holiday to Majorca with his twin sister Natasha in 1989 when he was just four.

His mother, Karen, said: “They were both so excited to be flying and commented, as we were approaching London, how Daniel was going to fly the plane when they grew up.”

As a child, his parents took him to airports to watch the planes and on flights he would speak to the pilots.

Mr Nice learnt to fly at the Real Flying Company at Shoreham Airport. He was one of seven to get the EasyJet job after being whittled down from 126 applicants.