Article 163 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 163 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثاني عشر: العقوبات والجزاءات
Without prejudice to other penalties, the Authority may suspend or cancel licenses, permits and certificates, bar an aircraft from flying or force it to land after warning, bar a foreign commander, and close unlicensed offices.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المقررة وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام والأنظمة الأخرى المطبقة في المملكة؛ يكون للهيئة أن تتخذ أيا من الإجراءات الآتية في حالة مخالفة أحكام هذا النظام أو لائحته أو القرارات أو التعليمات الصادرة بشأنه:
1- تعليق الإجازة أو الترخيص أو التصريح الصادر منها للمشغل أو للطائرة لمدة محدودة أو إلغاؤها.
2- تعليق مفعول شهادة صلاحية الطائرة للطيران الصادرة أو المعتمدة منها لمدة محدودة أو سحبها نهائيا.
3- تعليق مفعول إجازة الطيران أو أي إجازة أخرى صادرة أو معتمدة منها لمدة محدودة أو سحبها نهائيا.
4- منع الطائرة من الطيران لمدة محدودة أو إجبارها على الهبوط بعد إنذارها.
5- منع قائد الطائرة الأجنبية من الطيران في إقليم المملكة لمدة محدودة أو منعه بصفة دائمة.
6- تعليق التراخيص أو التصاريح أو الإجازات الصادرة منها لمدة محدودة أو سحبها نهائيا.
7- غلق مكاتب شركات الطيران أو شركات ووكالات الشحن الجوي أو الخدمات الأرضية للطيران التي تعمل بدون ترخيص أو بعد انتهاء مدته أو سحبه أو إلغائه.
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 163 explained in plain English
This article sets out the administrative sanctions the Authority may take, without prejudice to the penalties prescribed in this Law and other laws. These sanctions do not preclude other penalties; they are added to them.
When? When the provisions of the Law, its Regulations, or the decisions or instructions issued under it are violated.
The sanctions:
- Suspending, for a limited period, or canceling the license, permit or authorization issued to the operator or for the aircraft.
- Suspending, for a limited period, the effect of an aircraft's airworthiness certificate, or withdrawing it permanently.
- Suspending, for a limited period, the effect of a flying license or any other license, or withdrawing it permanently.
- Barring the aircraft from flying for a limited period, or forcing it to land after warning it.
- Barring the commander of a foreign aircraft from flying in the territory of the Kingdom for a limited period or permanently.
- Suspending, for a limited period, or permanently withdrawing the licenses, permits or authorizations it has issued.
- Closing the offices of airlines, air cargo companies and agencies, or aviation ground services companies that operate without a license or after its term has expired or it has been withdrawn or canceled.
The wording "the Authority may take any of" means the Authority may choose the appropriate sanction. The article does not specify criteria for choosing or the length of suspensions.
This article follows Article 162, which gives the Authority's representatives the power to detect violations, and precedes Article 164, which allows the Authority to prevent, stop or remove violations. Anyone subject to a sanction should consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
The Authority found that an air cargo agency in Dammam continued operating after its license expired. The Authority may close its office, without prejudice to other penalties prescribed in the Law.
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 163 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the General Authority of Civil Aviation withdraw a pilot's license?
Yes. It may suspend the effect of a flying license or any other license for a limited period, or withdraw it permanently, if the Law, its Regulations, or the decisions or instructions are violated.
Can the Authority close an airline's office?
Yes, if it operates without a license or after its term has expired or it has been withdrawn or canceled.
Do these sanctions prevent other penalties?
No. They are without prejudice to the penalties prescribed under the Law and other laws.
More articles on Aviation Security Offenses and Penalties
- 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 19
The owner or operator of an aircraft registered in the Kingdom may not offer or sell alcohol, narcotics or prohibited items on board; arrivals may not possess them, and no aircraft may carry them into the Kingdom.
1 - يحظر على مالك أي طائرة مسجلة في المملكة، أو مشغلها أن يقدم أو يبيع لأي شخص على متنها أي مشروبات كحولية ، أو مواد مخدرة ، أو أي مواد محظور دخولها إلى المملكة
- Article 105
The article prohibits anyone from boarding an aircraft if they show signs of intoxication or drug use.
يحظر على أي شخص ركوب الطائرة إذا كانت تبدو عليه علامات السكر أو المخدر.
- Article 106
The article prohibits piloting an aircraft or working as a crew member while under the influence of an intoxicant, drug or impairing medication, and prohibits taking any of them throughout the period of work.
يحظر على أي شخص أن يقود طائرة أو أن يعمل كأحد أفراد طاقمها ما دام تحت تأثير مسكر أو مخدر أو دواء يؤدي إلى إضعاف مقدرته على القيام بواجباته على الوجه الأكمل، وفي
- Article 153
The provisions of the international treaties and conventions the Kingdom has approved, and the laws applied in the Kingdom, apply to crimes and acts committed against the security and safety of civil aviation and aircraft.
تطبق على الجرائم والأفعال التي ترتكب ضد أمن وسلامة الطيران المدني والطائرات؛ أحكام المعاهدات والاتفاقيات الدولية بهذا الشأن التي وافقت عليها المملكة وأحكام الأن
- Article 154
The article specifies the acts that are crimes against aviation security, such as violence on board an aircraft, destroying it, giving false information, seizing it, assaults at airports, assaulting crew, harassment and theft.
1- يُعد مرتبكًا لجريمة أي شخص يشرع في ارتكاب أو يرتكب عمدا ودون حق مشروع فعلا من الأفعال الآتية أو يشارك شخصا آخر يشرع أو يرتكب هذا الفعل: أ - أن يقوم بعمل من أ
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.