For the first time in Arkia’s history, a female pilot has been certified as a jet captain. Captain Adar Madutzky completed the qualification process and was certified as a captain in the airline’s Airbus A320/321 fleet, marking a second unusual family milestone as well.
Her father, Tal Madutzky, has served as an Arkia captain for more than 15 years. With Adar’s certification, the two become the first father and daughter to serve simultaneously as captains at the Israeli airline. She will fly in Arkia’s Airbus fleet, while her father serves as a captain in the Embraer fleet.
Captain Tal Madutzky and fleet manager Noam Adar present Captain Adar Madutzky with her captain’s insignia
(Photo: Arkia)
Women still make up a small minority of pilots at Israeli airlines. According to figures published in 2025, El Al employed seven female pilots out of roughly 650 pilots, including three captains. Smadar Shechter became the first woman certified as a captain at El Al more than a decade ago.
Israir has also seen a recent increase in the number of female pilots. In July, the airline was reported to employ seven female pilots, representing about 10% of its operational pilot workforce, after three women were among 15 new pilots recruited.
Women have also previously served as captains at Israir, and in 2021 the airline operated a flight with both a female captain and a female first officer in the cockpit.
Arkia Chief Operating Officer Capt. Yotam Galaon said the milestone was an emotional one for the company. “This is an exciting day for Arkia. Captain certification is a significant moment in every pilot’s professional life, and I congratulate Idan and Adar on the long road, the investment and the achievement,” he said.
“Adar’s story is especially moving, a father and daughter serving as captains at the same airline, and a family story connected to generations of Israeli endeavor. This is exactly the connection we love at Arkia, people, family, Israeli spirit and professionalism. I wish Idan and Adar thousands of safe and successful flight hours and open skies.”
ynet previously spoke with Captain Adar Madutzky in October 2023 for an article about Israeli and international female pilots.
At the time, she was 31 and serving as an Airbus A321neo pilot at Arkia. She described the path that had taken her to the cockpit, including studying aviation in the United States and working there as a flight instructor and pilot before joining Arkia. “At 24, I also didn’t think I would be accepted as a pilot at Arkia, but it happened. With a lot of ambition, dreams come true,” she told ynet at the time.
She also spoke then about the small number of women in the profession. “In the end, I’m a young woman on my own among men. There aren’t many women in aviation,” she said.
Three years later, Captain Adar Madutzky has reached another career milestone, becoming the first female pilot at Arkia certified to captain a jet.