Article 127 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 127 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب التاسع: البحث والإنقاذ
Anyone who provides search and rescue assistance under this Part may recover their expenses and be compensated for damage caused during or directly by the operations, except for assistance by the Kingdom's agencies, subject to reciprocity.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- كل معونة بحث وإنقاذ تقدم من قبل الأشخاص وفقا لأحكام هذا الباب تعطي الحق في استرداد النفقات الناتجة عن عمليات المعونة وفي التعويض عن الأضرار التي وقعت أثناء تلك العمليات أو التي كانت نتيجة مباشرة لها.
2 - مع مراعاة مبدأ المعاملة بالمثل؛ لا تسري أحكام الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة على أي معونة تقدمها أجهزة أو سلطات المملكة.
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 127 explained in plain English
This article answers a practical question: who bears the cost of search and rescue, and of any damage that occurs during it?
1- The rule: Any search and rescue assistance provided by persons under the provisions of this Part gives the provider the right to:
- recover the expenses resulting from the assistance operations; and
- compensation for damage that occurred during those operations or was a direct result of them.
So a person who takes part in a rescue does not bear alone what they spent or the harm they suffered because of it.
2- The exception: This right does not apply to any assistance provided by the Kingdom's agencies or authorities, subject to the principle of reciprocity. Subject to reciprocity means that this exception is affected by the position of the other state concerned; the article does not set out how it is applied.
The assistance must be provided "in accordance with the provisions of this Part." It is followed by Article 128, which prevents these expenses and compensation from exceeding the value of the aircraft immediately before the accident. Anyone who took part in a rescue operation and wishes to claim their expenses or compensation may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and civil aviation cases.
Practical example
The operator of a private helicopter took part, at the Authority's request, in searching for a missing aircraft. He spent money on fuel and crew, and his helicopter was damaged while landing at the search site. He is entitled to recover his expenses and be compensated for the damage, within the limit set by Article 128.
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 127 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is a person who helped rescue an aircraft entitled to recover what they spent?
Yes. Any search and rescue assistance provided in accordance with the provisions of this Part gives the right to recover expenses and to compensation for damage that occurred during it or resulted directly from it.
Do Saudi government agencies claim rescue costs?
No. The right to recovery and compensation does not apply to assistance provided by the Kingdom's agencies or authorities, subject to the principle of reciprocity.
More articles on Aviation Accidents and Search and Rescue
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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.