By akademiotoelektronik, 26/10/2022

Despite the aeronautical crisis, Rehanne Meralli Ballou, the youngest Réunion Graduated Line pilot, does not let go

It is 7 am and the day is just starting to get up at Montpellier airport.Rehanne takes a last look at the weather before slipping into the Diamond Da42 cockpit."I am always very excited about going to fly".At just 23 years old, the young woman has just succeeded in her Line pilot license and despite a particularly difficult context in aeronautics, she is determined to make the sky her workspace.Three years ago, she made the choice to leave her island, her parents, her little sister and her friends to prepare to become a line.

Look at our report in Montpellier with the images of Nordine Bensmail and the assembly of Serge Parsekian:

©la1ere

One hundred thousand euros

Beyond having a well-made head, Réhanne has the character and the mind of people who never give up.His dream of piloting a plane dates back to her childhood.

A few years later, in college, Réhanne learns the existence of an aeronautical initiation certificate (BIA) offered to young aviation enthusiasts.She graduated with the mention "very good" and will rank 3rd in the Reunion Academy.A vocation was born.She will not leave her anymore.

After a bac S and two years of scientific preparatory classes, Réhanne manages to convince her parents to let her fly around France to integrate Airways Esma in Montpellier in September 2018 in September 2018 in Montpellier."The training cost me 100,000 euros in total.My parents paid me half, the rest I borrowed it from the bank.I have to start repaying the bank next January ".

The sky is its element

Procédure d'approche avant d'atterrir sur la piste de l'aéroport de Montpellier • ©Nordine Bensmail

For a little more than two years, Rehanne has become familiar with the 26 planes Diamond (17 DA40 and 9 DA42) which make up the school fleet and validated its fourteen ATPL modules, the Ligne Lading License.

Réhanne is now officially able to control an airliner.She is the youngest graduate in Reunion.Only 3% of professional pilots worldwide are women, according to the Organization of International Civil Aviation (OACI).

A first step for this young woman who must now convince the airlines to trust her and the task looks complicated."Once the application file is accepted by a company, you have to succeed in a series of psychomotor, psychotechnical and psychological tests.Then you have to be formed on the type of device on which we will fly.This training lasts about two to three months and costs more or less 30,000 euros depending on the companies ".

Return to earth

The health crisis brought the airlines into an area of very high turbulence.Thousands of pilots around the world have lost their jobs, hires have been frozen and, when the resumption of air traffic occurs, young graduates may not have priority.

Rehanne refuses to let go.She is convinced that her work, her motivation and her sacrifices will end up paying.In the meantime, and because you have to pay the rent and repay the loans, the young woman crisscrosses Montpellier and her surroundings while driving her electric van.Every day, she delivers parcels for a global online commerce giant."I win the minimum wage for this work.It is sometimes discouraging but, I hang on, I will not give up, "she says.

In a few days, Réhanne will take a break with her boyfriend, Nicolas.Together, they will fly to the meeting to enjoy a few days of vacation."It's been almost two years since I saw my parents and my little sister.They miss me a lot.I need it, "she concludes.