Article 140 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 140 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: المسؤولية عن الأضرار التي تسببها الطائرة للغير على سطح الأرض
For the purposes of the chapter on damage on the surface, an aircraft is in flight from when motive power is first used for actual takeoff until landing; a lighter-than-air aircraft, from when it leaves the ground until it is secured again.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
عند تطبيق أحكام هذا الفصل تعد الطائرة في حالة طيران منذ اللحظة التي يبدأ فيها استخدام القوة المحركة لغرض الإقلاع الفعلي حتى اللحظة التي يتم فيها الهبوط، وتبدأ هذه الحالة بالنسبة للطائرات الأخف من الهواء منذ لحظة انفصالها عن الأرض حتى لحظة إعادة تثبيتها عليها.
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 140 explained in plain English
This article determines when an aircraft is considered "in flight" when applying the chapter on liability for damage caused by an aircraft to third parties on the surface. The definition matters because Article 141 ties the injured person's right to compensation to the damage having arisen from the aircraft while in flight or from a person or thing that fell from it.
Ordinary aircraft: The state of flight begins from the moment motive power is first used for the purpose of actual takeoff, and ends at the moment of landing.
So running the engines for actual takeoff counts as flight.
Lighter-than-air aircraft (such as balloons): The state begins from the moment they leave the ground, and ends at the moment they are secured to it again.
Practical effect: If damage is caused to a third party on the surface during this period, the provisions of this chapter apply. What happens outside it does not fall within this definition, and is governed by other laws.
This article follows Article 139, which obliges every air carrier operating in the Kingdom to submit the air carriage conditions it applies to the Authority for approval. Someone harmed by an aircraft who wants to know whether it was in flight at the time may consult a lawyer specializing in compensation and aviation cases.
Practical example
An aircraft at Riyadh airport began using engine power for actual takeoff, and a part flew off and hit a car parked outside the airport. At that moment the aircraft is considered in flight for the purposes of the provisions on compensation for damage on the surface.
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 140 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
When is an aircraft legally considered in flight?
From the moment motive power is first used for the purpose of actual takeoff until the moment of landing.
When is a balloon in flight?
Lighter-than-air aircraft are in flight from the moment they leave the ground until the moment they are secured to it again.
More articles on Compensation for Damage Caused by Aircraft on the Ground
- Article 66
The article protects anyone who suffers surface damage from an aircraft when it is seized and sold by forced sale: security rights can be asserted against them only up to 80% of the price, unless the damage was insured.
1- إذا تم إجراء البيع الجبري في المملكة ووقع في إقليمها ضرر على السطح من طائرة تم ترتيب أحد الحقوق الواردة في المادة (السادسة والخمسين) من هذا النظام عليها ضمان
- Article 141
Anyone harmed on the surface in the Kingdom is entitled to compensation from the aircraft operator once it is shown that the damage arose directly from the aircraft in flight or from a person or thing that fell from it, subject to specified exceptions.
1 - لكل من أصيب بضرر على سطح الأرض في إقليم المملكة الحق في الحصول على تعويض من مشغل الطائرة بمجرد ثبوت أن الضرر قد نشأ مباشرة من الطائرة وهي في حالة طيران أو م
- Article 142
The aircraft operator is liable for compensation for surface damage whether it uses the aircraft itself or through its employees and agents, and the owner or lessee in whose name the aircraft is registered is deemed the operator unless it proves someone else is.
1 - يكون مشغل الطائرة مسؤولا عن التعويض المشار إليه في المادة (الحادية والأربعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام سواء أكان يستعمل الطائرة بنفسه أو بواسطة تابعيه ووكلا
- Article 143
A person entitled to use the aircraft for less than 14 days is jointly liable with the person who authorized the use, and the operator is jointly liable with anyone who used its aircraft without its consent unless it proves it took the necessary care.
1- يكون الشخص الذي له حق استعمال الطائرة لمدة تقل عن أربعة عشر يوما مسؤولا بالتضامن مع الشخص الذي خوله هذا الحق في دفع التعويض عن الأضرار الموجبة للتعويض المشار
- Article 144
The liable person is exempt from compensating surface damage caused by armed conflict or civil disturbance, by being barred from using the aircraft by order of public authorities, or by the injured person's fault; compensation is reduced in proportion to the injured person's contribution.
1- لا يلتزم الشخص المسؤول وفقا لأحكام هذا الفصل بتعويض الضرر الذي يقع في الأحوال الآتية: أ - إذا كان الضرر قد نتج مباشرة عن نزاع مسلح أو لاضطرابات مدنية. ب - إ
- Article 145
Where damage on the surface arises from a collision of two or more aircraft in flight, or one obstructing another, or from two or more aircraft, each aircraft is deemed to have caused the damage and each operator is liable in proportion to its fault or that of its employees.
إذا نشأ ضرر للغير على سطح الأرض يستحق عنه تعويض نتيجة تصادم طائرتين أو أكثر في حالة طيران ، أو بسبب إعاقة إحداهما سير الأخرى، أو إذا نشأ مثل هذا الضرر من طائرتي
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.