Article 103 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 103 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: العمليات الجوية
The article prohibits entering the aircraft's flight deck except by crew members and inspectors or observers appointed for a specific task, and prohibits using the flight controls except by a qualified pilot assigned by the operator.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر على أي شخص أن يدخل غرفة قيادة الطائرة إلا إذا كان عضوًا من أعضاء طاقمها أو مفتشا أو مراقبا معينا من قبل المشغل أو الهيئة للقيام بعمل محدد أثناء الرحلة، كما يحظر على أي شخص أن يستعمل أجهزة قيادة الطائرة أثناء طيرانها إلا إذا كان طيارًا مؤهلا ومكلفًا من قبل المشغل بذلك، وتحدد اللائحة شروط وضوابط ذلك.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 103 explained in plain English
This article protects the aircraft's flight deck and its controls, which are among the most important elements of a flight's security and safety.
1- Prohibition on entry: No person may enter the aircraft's flight deck unless they are:
- a member of its crew; or
- an inspector or observer appointed by the operator or the Authority to perform a specific task during the flight.
2- Prohibition on using the flight controls: No person may use the aircraft's flight controls while it is flying unless they are:
- a qualified pilot; and
- assigned by the operator to do so.
So it is not enough for a person to be a qualified pilot if the operator has not assigned them, and assignment is not enough for someone who is not a qualified pilot.
3- Details: The Regulations set the conditions and controls for this, and the text does not give their details.
Practical effect: A passenger, even if a pilot with another company, has no right to enter the flight deck or touch its controls during the flight unless within the categories mentioned. The crew must not allow it.
This article follows Article 102, which makes the aircraft commander responsible for its safety and requires those on board to carry out the commander's orders, and precedes Article 104, which requires the commander to report abnormal weather conditions and anything that endangers flight. Anyone accused of violating this prohibition is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters and civil aviation law.
Practical example
A passenger on a flight from Dammam asks to visit the flight deck to take a photo with the pilots during the flight. He may not be allowed in, because he is not a crew member, nor an inspector or observer appointed for a specific task during the flight.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 103 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Who may enter the aircraft's flight deck?
Crew members of the aircraft, and inspectors or observers appointed by the operator or the Authority to perform a specific task during the flight.
May a pilot traveling as a passenger use the flight controls?
No. The flight controls may not be used during flight except by a qualified pilot assigned by the operator to do so.
More articles on Air Operations and Flight Safety
- Article 14
Unauthorized persons may not interfere with or obstruct the flight crew during flight, and no one may tamper with the aircraft or endanger its safety, its crew or its passengers.
يحظر على أي شخص غير مخول رسميا أن يتدخل في أعمال أي عضو من أعضاء هيئة القيادة أو يعوقه عن عمله أثناء فترة الطيران ، كما يحظر على أي شخص العبث بأي جزء من أجزاء ا
- Article 85
No aircraft may operate in the Kingdom's territory on an international flight unless it carries the documents and records required by the Chicago Convention and its annexes and any others the Authority specifies.
لا يجوز لأي طائرة أن تعمل في إقليم المملكة أثناء رحلة دولية إلا إذا كانت تحمل الوثائق والسجلات الواجب حملها طبقًا لأحكام معاهدة شيكاغو ملاحقها وأي وثائق أو سجلا
- Article 86
No operator may begin operating its aircraft before the Authority approves the operations specifications it prepares, which form part of its license and are binding.
لا يجوز لأي مشغل أن يبدأ في تشغيل طائرته إلا بعد اعتماد الهيئة لمواصفات التشغيل المعدة من قبل المشغل ، وتعد جزءًا من الترخيص الممنوح له، وتكون واجبة التطبيق، ول
- Article 87
The operator must prepare an operations manual for each aircraft it operates, including the operations specifications, for pilots and operations staff to use as guidance, and have the Authority approve it.
على المشغل أن يعد دليلا للعمليات ولكل طائرة يشغلها متضمنا مواصفات التشغيل ليستعمله ويسترشد به الطيارون وموظفو العمليات واعتماده من الهيئة وفقًا لما تحدده اللائح
- Article 88
An operator may not run a new air route or extend an existing one before one or more preparatory flights with no passengers except those needed to operate the aircraft; mail and goods may be carried, and the Authority may exempt.
لا يجوز للمشغل تشغيل أي خط جوي جديد أو مد خط قائم قبل إجراء رحلة، أو رحلات تمهيدية ، ولا يجوز له فيها حمل أشخاص عدا الأشخاص اللازمين لتشغيل الطائرة ، ويجوز له ح
- Article 98
The article sets the scope of the air operations part: Saudi aircraft operators, Saudi operators using foreign aircraft, and foreign operators inside the territory, as well as the people they employ and those on board.
مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام تطبق الأحكام الواردة في هذا الباب على الآتي: 1 - العمليات الجوية التي يقوم بها مشغل طائرة مدنية مسجلة في المملكة
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.