Towards normalization? This is what a weekend in Riyadh looks like Midan Bar

The Saudis see normalization as an important strategic direction, joint Arab transport together with the Western world, which does not depend on oil – in light of the energy trends in the world. But it would not be complete without the income and transit of hundreds of millions of passengers, tourists and businessmen in the territory of the kingdom. Something that has not happened so far.

Most of these will arrive by plane and for that purpose an aircraft deal has already been signed which will establish two brand new Saudi airlines with over 200 state-of-the-art aircraft, which will give the Saudis the relative advantage in flying those millions of visitors.

The aviation market suffering from a shortage of pilots may turn Saudi Arabia into a center for the development and training of aircrews for the Middle East and the entire world. The establishment of aircraft manufacturing factories on Saudi soil should not be ruled out, before similar ones are established in China or the Eastern European bloc. For us this means flight schools within touching distance of Israel, in a huge kingdom that enjoys extremely low oil prices (the main component in the pricing of the flight hours the trainees need).

Israel is part of the process because we are part of the region, we are part of the process because of the special alliance with the US and because the Middle East is changing – and it is not up to us. We are changing with it and it is good that we are a significant player, with a high specific weight within the Middle East. Aviation, to our delight, will be One of the first industries to be part of this important process and we see and feel it already today. The direct flight routes and the professional and welcoming communication of the control in Riyadh provide direct and living proof that it definitely works.

Saudi Arabia is a kingdom and not a democracy, like the entire Gulf region, but normalization agreements are usually made between different forms of regime, which are professionally subject to the same stringent international aviation standards. In the future, the Israeli pilots will be able to apply for jobs at airlines in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, the licensing is similar and the required adjustments are not many, the distances are short and the flight to Riyadh or another Saudi destination takes about the same time as the flight to Rhodes or Crete. This means that short-haul aviation, what used to be called domestic aviation, will thrive alongside the long-haul flights we all want to the other side of the world.

Every normalization has costs for both parties that sign the agreement, the issue of nuclear enrichment on Saudi soil is significant for the future of the State of Israel and the future of the entire world. For 75 years, part of Israel's strength lay in a relative advantage in security and strategic fields, but it is possible that in the future it will be replaced, at least in part, by being part of a comprehensive regional alliance.

The uniqueness that was true where the country is surrounded by enemies may need to recalculate the course when it comes to a successful country that is almost completely surrounded by peace agreements and normalization. Here the leadership, the international coalition to which we belong and the internal national resilience are important, which is very useful because such agreements will meet him at a positive high point.

The first to feel the normalization is the airline passenger flying over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but our pilots hear it happen in real time: Saudi inspectors in the control towers and the control units communicate with the planes of the Israeli companies in a pleasant and professional language.

It must be remembered that the same inspector with an international aviation education, who manages dozens of planes in the airspace, could not come to work independently until two years ago because she simply did not have a driver's license. So don't say that change is not possible… the first Saudi plane will land here soon!

The writer is the chairman of the Israeli Pilots Association