Douglas Cairns

In 1989, Douglas Cairns was a British Royal Air Force jet pilot at the age of 25 when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and consequently lost his flying career. In 2000 he regained the freedom to fly in the USA as a licenced private pilot, and then went on to complete “Diabetes World Flight” in 2003, the first round-the-world flight by a pilot with type 1 diabetes.

After completing his world flight Douglas wrote a book on his experiences (Dare to Dream: Flying Solo With Diabetes) and spent three years in the USA giving sponsored motivational talks to the diabetes community. During this time he set five world speed records and two transcontinental speed records in the USA using the Diabetes World Flight “Beech Baron,” and broke the existing record to land in all 48 contiguous states of the USA before smashing the old record to land in all 50 USA states in 5 days and 15 hours in 2010. In April 2011 he set a world speed record between Barrow, Alaska and the North Pole, followed by the first ever landing in a light twin-engine aircraft on the polar ice.

Douglas is a founder member of Pilots With Diabetes which actively engages with aviation authorities to promote commercial and private flying with diabetes, culminating in the UK Civil Aviation Authority introducing commercial flying for pilots with insulin treated diabetes in August 2012. Douglas runs a series of flying projects and “Flying With Diabetes Day” events, and is passionate about raising awareness of diabetes, and gives regular talks to conferences & meetings, highlighting that diabetes need not limit the scope of people’s dreams and ambitions. Douglas is based in London as an Investment Specialist with Threadneedle Investment Management, covering Asia & Global Emerging Markets equities.