Article 122 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 122 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب التاسع: البحث والإنقاذ
The article requires the owner, operator or commander of an aircraft to carry out the search and rescue operations the Authority requests when necessary and if capabilities allow, and bars refusing to give assistance.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب على مالك أي طائرة أو مشغلها أو قائدها القيام بعمليات البحث والإنقاذ التي تطلبها منه الهيئة عندما تقتضي الضرورة ذلك متى كانت إمكانيات الطائرة تسمح بذلك.
2 - لا يجوز لأي شخص أو جهة الامتناع عن تقديم أي معونة للإنقاذ، ولا يجوز لأي منهما الامتناع عن البحث متى طلبت السلطات المختصة منه ذلك أو كانت طبيعة عمله تمكنه من تقديم مثل هذه المعونة.
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 122 explained in plain English
This article sets a general obligation to take part in search and rescue, at two levels.
1- Obligation of aircraft owners: The owner, operator or commander of any aircraft must carry out the search and rescue operations the Authority requests of them, on two conditions:
- that necessity requires it;
- that the aircraft's capabilities allow it.
An aircraft is not asked to do more than it can.
2- A general obligation on everyone:
- no person or body may refuse to give any rescue assistance;
- nor may either refuse to search when the competent authorities ask them to, or when the nature of their work enables them to give such assistance.
Note that the two conditions in the second paragraph (the authorities' request or the nature of the work) appear in the text after the mention of refusing to search; refusing to search is prohibited when either is met.
Practical effect: Airlines and private pilots may be asked to take part in searching for a missing aircraft, and they may not refuse when the conditions are met. The article does not set the penalty for refusal.
This article follows Article 121, which makes the Authority responsible for search and rescue operations and requires the bodies to coordinate with it, and precedes Article 123, which requires the authorities to allow rescue teams to enter prohibited areas. Anyone facing liability for refusing may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
Contact is lost with a small aircraft over the Empty Quarter, and the Authority asks the operator of a nearby helicopter to take part in the search. The operator must respond when necessity requires it and the helicopter's capabilities allow.
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 122 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Must an airline take part in searching for a missing aircraft?
The owner, operator or commander of any aircraft must carry out the search and rescue operations the Authority requests when necessary and if the aircraft's capabilities allow.
May anyone refuse to help in a rescue?
No person or body may refuse to give any rescue assistance, nor refuse to search when the competent authorities ask them to or when the nature of their work enables them to.
More articles on Aviation Accidents and Search and Rescue
- Article 107
The National Transport Safety Center investigates accidents and incidents of civil aircraft in the Kingdom and of Saudi aircraft, and sets the investigation regulations, forms its committees, prepares reports and publishes the results.
1- يتولى المركز التحقيق في الحوادث والوقائع التي تقع للطائرات المدنية في إقليم المملكة وللطائرات السعودية وللطائرات التي يشغلها أشخاص يحملون الجنسية السعودية فو
- Article 108
Local authorities, crew members and pilots who see an accident must report aviation accidents in the Kingdom to the Authority, and the owner or operator must notify of accidents to Saudi aircraft abroad.
1- عند وقوع حادث طيران في إقليم المملكة فإن على السلطات المحلية عند علمها بوقوع الحادث في منطقة اختصاصها وعلى عضو طاقم الطائرة التي وقع لها الحادث إذا سمحت حالت
- Article 109
On learning of an accident to a foreign aircraft in the Kingdom's territory, the Center must notify the State of registry, the State of the operator, the State of design and of manufacture, any State affected, and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
مع مراعاة أحكام الملحق (13) لمعاهدة شيكاغو بشأن التحقيق في حوادث الطائرات ؛ يقوم المركز بعد علمه بوقوع حادث لطائرة أجنبية في إقليم المملكة بالإبلاغ عنه في أقرب
- Article 110
On an aviation accident, local authorities must keep the aircraft from flying, preserve it and its wreckage, and not move it except for specified reasons until the investigation committee arrives.
على السلطات المحلية عند وقوع حادث طيران في منطقة اختصاصها أن تمنع الطائرة عن الطيران وأن تحافظ عليها وعلى أجزائها وجميع موجوداتها أو حطامها، وعدم تحريكها من موض
- Article 111
The board of directors decides whether to conduct an investigation into aviation accidents in the Kingdom or over the high seas involving a Saudi aircraft, or a foreign one operated by a Saudi, or not to proceed with it; the Regulations set the committees' powers.
يقرر مجلس الإدارة عند وقوع حادث طيران في إقليم المملكة أو فوق أعالي البحار أو فوق الأراضي غير المملوكة لإحدى الدول لطائرة سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها سعودي؛
- Article 112
The article allows the Center to ask States and bodies set by the Regulations for representatives to take part as observers in investigating accidents of Saudi aircraft, and gives the States concerned a right of representation for foreign aircraft accidents.
1- عند وقوع حادث لطائرة سعودية أو لطائرة أجنبية يشغلها سعودي في إقليم المملكة أو فوق أعالي البحار أو فوق أراض غير مملوكة لدولة ما؛ يجوز للمركز أن يطلب من الدول
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.