Article 104 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 104 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: العمليات الجوية
The article requires the aircraft commander to report abnormal weather conditions, navigation aid malfunctions and any hazard to the air traffic services unit, and the operator to brief passengers on safety requirements.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا صادف قائد الطائرة أثناء طيرانه أحوالا جوية غير طبيعية، أو لاحظ أداء غير طبيعي لمساعدات الملاحة الجوية مما قد يشكل خطورة على الطيران؛ فعليه أن يبلغ وحدة خدمات الحركة الجوية المختصة عن هذه الأحوال، كما أن عليه أن يبلغ عن أي أحوال قد تشكل خطرا على سلامة الطيران وعلى المشغل اتخاذ الإجراءات الكفيلة بإرشاد ركاب الطائرة بمتطلبات السلامة، وفقا لما تحدده اللائحة.
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 104 explained in plain English
This article sets two obligations aimed at exchanging safety information and informing passengers.
1- The aircraft commander's duty to report: If the aircraft commander encounters during flight:
- abnormal weather conditions; or
- abnormal performance of air navigation aids;
that may endanger flight, they must report these conditions to the competent air traffic services unit. They must also report any conditions that may endanger flight safety, so the duty is not limited to weather and navigation.
2- The operator's duty to brief passengers: The operator must take the measures needed to brief the aircraft's passengers on safety requirements, including what is usually presented to passengers before takeoff.
This is done as the Regulations specify; the article does not set the method of reporting or the form of the briefing.
The rationale: What one pilot notices may protect other aircraft passing through the same area, so the Law makes reporting a duty, not an option.
This article follows Article 103, which limits entry to the flight deck and use of its controls to specified categories, and precedes Article 105, which prohibits boarding an aircraft by anyone showing signs of intoxication or drugs. To learn the detailed obligations of pilots and operators, consult the Regulations or a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
During a flight over the Eastern Province, the aircraft commander notices that a ground navigation aid is giving abnormal signals. The commander must report this to the competent air traffic services unit, so that the necessary measures are taken to protect other aircraft.
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 104 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Must a pilot report bad weather?
Yes. If the commander encounters abnormal weather conditions that may endanger flight, they must report them to the competent air traffic services unit.
Who is responsible for briefing passengers on safety requirements?
The operator must take the measures needed to brief the aircraft's passengers on safety requirements, as the Regulations specify.
More articles on Air Operations and Flight Safety
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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
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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
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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
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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.