Article 174 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 174 من نظام الطيران المدني · الباب الثاني عشر: العقوبات والجزاءات
A five-member committee formed by the Board of Directors hears violations of the Law; its decisions may be challenged before the Board of Grievances within 60 days, and severe cases are referred to it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام المواد (الحادية والثلاثين بعد المائة) و(الحادية والخمسين بعد المائة) و(الثانية والسبعين بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، تكون بقرار من مجلس الإدارة لجنة من خمسة أعضاء يكون أحدهم على الأقل ذا مؤهل نظامي يتولى رئاستها، وتختص بالنظر في جميع مخالفات أحكام هذا النظام ولائحته، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية، وتعتمد من رئيس المجلس أو من يفوضه، ويجوز التظلم من قراراتها أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يومًا من تاريخ إبلاغ ذوي الشأن.
ب - إذا رأت اللجنة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (أ) من هذه المادة أن المخالفة تستوجب في نظرها الحبس أو المصادرة أو غلق النشاط فتحال إلى ديوان المظالم ابتداء للفصل فيها.
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 174 explained in plain English
This article regulates the body that hears violations of the Civil Aviation Law and the route for objecting to its decisions.
Without prejudice to Articles 131 (jurisdiction of the Board of Grievances over search and rescue claims in specified cases), 151 (jurisdiction of the Board of Grievances over claims for compensation for aircraft damage on the surface, with the possibility of agreeing on other courts or arbitration), and 172 (jurisdiction of the Board of Grievances over crimes violating the Law, with proceedings brought at the Authority's request).
a- The committee:
- It is formed by decision of the Board of Directors, of five members, at least one of whom has a legal qualification and chairs it;
- it has jurisdiction to hear all violations of the provisions of the Law and its Regulations;
- it issues its decisions by majority, approved by the chairman of the Board or his delegate; and
- its decisions may be challenged before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of notification of those concerned.
b- Referral: If the committee considers that the violation requires imprisonment, confiscation or closing the activity, it refers it to the Board of Grievances in the first instance for adjudication. The committee does not decide these severe sanctions.
Practical effect: A person subject to a committee decision must count the 60-day period from the date of notification, not from the date the decision was issued. This article follows Article 173 on confiscating an aircraft by court judgment. Anyone subject to a committee decision should consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases before the period expires.
Practical example
The violations committee issued a decision imposing a fine on a ground services company in Jeddah, and the company was notified of it on September 1. The company may challenge it before the Board of Grievances within 60 days of its notification.
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 174 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
How long do I have to challenge a decision of the civil aviation violations committee?
Its decisions may be challenged before the Board of Grievances within sixty days of notification of those concerned.
Who makes up the committee that hears violations of the Civil Aviation Law?
Five members by decision of the Board of Directors, at least one of whom has a legal qualification and chairs it.
May the committee rule on imprisonment or confiscation?
No. If it considers that the violation requires imprisonment, confiscation or closing the activity, it refers it to the Board of Grievances in the first instance for adjudication.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 131
The Board of Grievances has jurisdiction over search and rescue claims if the accident occurred in the Kingdom, on the high seas or in a place under no state's sovereignty, and the aircraft is Saudi-registered or in the Kingdom's territory or the claimant is a Saudi national.
يختص ديوان المظالم بالدعاوى الناشئة عن البحث والإنقاذ عند وقوع الحادث في المملكة أو في أعالي البحار أو في مكان غير خاضع لسيادة أي دولة، وذلك في إحدى الحالات الآ
- Article 151
Claims for compensation for damage caused by aircraft to third parties on the surface in the Kingdom, and to Saudi ships and aircraft on the high seas, are brought before the Board of Grievances; parties may agree on another country's courts or arbitration.
1- تقام دعوى التعويض عن الأضرار التي تسببها الطائرات للغير على سطح الأرض في إقليم المملكة وكذا الأضرار التي تقع على السفن والطائرات السعودية في أعالي البحار أما
- Article 172
The Board of Grievances hears crimes violating the Law committed in the Kingdom, on Saudi-registered aircraft or aircraft operated by a Saudi over the high seas, always at the Authority's request.
1- يختص ديوان المظالم بنظر جميع الجرائم التي تقع مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام أو لائحته أو القرارات أو التعليمات الصادرة في شأنه، وذلك إذا ارتكبت في إقليم المملكة أ
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.