WING COMMANDER (R) MATIULLAH SATTI

Wing Commander (R) Matiullah Satti was born in the village Ghanuyain in Kotli Sattian, Rawalpindi. He completed his primary education from the village school and his matriculation from the Govt High School Lehtrar. He Joined PAF college Sargodha as a flight cadet, after completing his graduation from this prestigious institution with distinction he joined PAF Academy Risalpur for his flying training.

Matiullah Satti was commissioned as a Pilot officer in GD(p) branch of the PAF in 1980. He became the first fighter pilot from Satti Tribe after creation of Pakistan and perhaps the second in the history of Satti Tribe.

He flew various fighter jets of the PAF like F-6, A-5 and Mirage to name a few. He also flew as a flying instructor in the academy and had the honour of leading the elite PAF Academy aerobatics team "The SHERDILS".

After serving PAF as a fighter pilot for about 16 years he decided to take premature retirement in 1996. He served only a year in his last rank as a wing commander. Matiullah Satti says "PAF is a great institution and I am who I am because of this elite organisation. I have great respect and love for PAF which is led and run by men of special breed."

A while after leaving PAF he joined UAE Air Force as a Civilian Flying Instructor in one of their fighter conversion unit. This unit was an integral part of Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College Al Ain.

Matiullah Satti  had the opportunity to fly with at least 10 nationalities from the world, who formed a part of instructional staff. He said "It was great learning and I enjoyed flying the Hawk-63, (the jet flown by Red Arrows) one of the best fighter trainer in the world."

He added that "after almost 15 years in Al Ain, i chose to come back to Pakistan in 2010. It was time to try my hand on the jetliners before hanging my flying boots. I flew A-320 and A-340 with Air Blue for 5 years. I left Air Blue and joined Shaheen Air International in April 2016  and am flying A-320  to date." 

"Flying is my passion, a unique profession, and I am in love with it. It’s unique in a way that its yesterday is never connected with today, for every  flight, you have a new jet, new copilot, new cabin crew, new passengers, new weather, new destination and a new Runway to land....it’s a challenge all the way."  (Matiullah Satti) 

AIR MARSHAL (R) NAJEEB AKHTAR RAJA - HI (M), SI (M), TI (M), SITARA-E-BASALAT

                                               Photo Credit: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority


Air Marshal (Retd) Najeeb Akhtar Raja has been appointed as Member Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Board on 1st January, 2014. he was also appointed as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Brazil.

He belongs to Dhanyal Tribe, hailing from Karore Valley (Kiyah), in tehsil Kotli Sattian.

He joined Pakistan Air Force in the flying branch in 1964 and was commissioned in 1966 as a pilot. He flew all major combat aircrafts (F-86, F-6, Mirage and F-16) over a flying career of over 34 years.

He participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war as a Mirage Pilot from Sargodha. During his flying career he held the appointments of a fighter Squadron Commander, Command of a Fighter Base, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operation, Air officer Commanding of Central air command and Air officer Commanding of Air Defence Command during Kargil operation. He was retired in the rank of Air Marshal in 2000 after 34 years of service. He conceived and oversaw the setting up of a major defence production facility at the Air Weapon Complex. 

He was decorated with Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) for meritorious contribution to the Pakistan Air Force. He was deputed abroad as a flying instructor to Libya for 2 years. He participated in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war from a forward air base in Egypt as a operation advisor and coordinator. He was deputed a second time to Saudi Air force as an operations and plans advisor for 3 years from 1985-88. He was appointed as the ambassador to Brazil, after his retirement from the service.