Nechama, a chareidi woman with three children living in a chareidi community in the Jerusalem area, has been accepted to a course to become certified as an El Al pilot. According to the Yediot Achronot report, she is a graduate of Beis Yaakov in Yerushalayim and began learning to fly at the age of 20 in the USA, where she received her pilot’s license.

While having all of the required documentation and licenses to enter the course she was lacking a number of flight hours. Many if not most of the candidates entering the course are former Israel Air Force pilots and therefore they have accumulated sufficient flying hours. Apparently it is difficult to accumulate the required number of hours as a civilian pilot.

Nechama remained undeterred and traveled to the United States annually until she accumulated the required number of hours in the air and she has since been accepted to the course which begins in November 2015.

Yediot adds that Nechama explained she has always dreamt of becoming an El Al pilot. The report adds that El Al officials’ who interviewed here were most impressed with her skills and abilities.

Nechama is quoted telling her friends “My husband backs me all the way towards realizing my dream”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)