Article 55 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 55 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
For the chapter on rights over aircraft, an aircraft means its airframe, engines, propellers, radio equipment and all parts designated to serve it, whether attached or temporarily detached.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (13) من المادة (الأولى) من هذا النظام، يقصد بتعبير ( الطائرة ) عند تطبيق أحكام هذا الفصل هيكلها والمحركات والمراوح وأجهزة اللاسلكي وكل الأجزاء المخصصة لخدمة الطائرة سواء كانت مثبتة بها أو مفصولة عنها مؤقتا.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article sets out what falls within the meaning of "aircraft" when applying the provisions of the chapter on rights over aircraft, such as ownership, lease and mortgage. It applies subject to paragraph 13 of Article 1 of the law.
In this chapter an aircraft includes:
- Its airframe.
- The engines.
- The propellers.
- Radio equipment.
- All parts designated to serve the aircraft.
An important condition: these parts fall within the meaning of the aircraft whether attached to it or temporarily detached from it. An engine temporarily removed for maintenance remains part of the aircraft for applying the provisions of this chapter.
The practical importance of this definition is that a right created over the aircraft, such as a mortgage or ownership, extends to these components. It is not possible, for example, to detach an engine temporarily and then treat it as property separate from the aircraft within the scope of this chapter.
This is linked to Article 54, which sets the scope of application of the chapter, and Article 56, which lists the rights that may be created over civil aircraft. Anyone with a dispute over the components of an aircraft can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
An airline mortgaged an aircraft to a bank as security for financing, then temporarily removed one of its engines to send it for maintenance. The engine remains within the meaning of "aircraft" when applying the provisions of the chapter on rights over aircraft, because it is only temporarily detached from it.
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 55 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Is an engine detached from the aircraft considered part of it?
Yes. In this chapter, all parts designated to serve the aircraft fall within its meaning, whether attached to it or temporarily detached from it.
What does the definition of an aircraft include in the chapter on rights over aircraft?
Its airframe, engines, propellers, radio equipment and all parts designated to serve the aircraft.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Registering Aircraft and Rights Over Them
- Article 49
No civil aircraft may fly in the Kingdom's territory without its nationality and registration marks; the Authority may permit an unregistered aircraft to fly or land for technical testing or other purposes.
لا يجوز لأي طائرة مدنية أن تطير في إقليم المملكة ما لم تكن تحمل علامة جنسيتها وتسجيلها طبقا لنظام دولة التسجيل ، أو سلطة تسجيل العلامة العامة ، ومع ذلك يجوز لله
- Article 50
The Authority determines the nationality and registration marks of national aircraft and how they are placed on the aircraft, in accordance with the applicable international rules and laws.
تحدد الهيئة علامات جنسية وتسجيل الطائرات الوطنية ، كما تحدد طريقة وضعها على الطائرة وفقا للقواعد والأنظمة الدولية المطبقة في هذا الشأن.
- Article 51
The Authority maintains the Saudi National Register for Aircraft Registration, whose contents and registration conditions are set by the Implementing Regulations; a registered aircraft has the Kingdom's nationality.
1- تعد الهيئة سجلا لتسجيل الطائرات المدنية الوطنية يسمى ( السجل السعودي الوطني لتسجيل الطائرات )، وتحدد اللائحة البيانات التي يجب أن يتضمنها السجل والشروط الواج
- Article 52
The Authority issues aircraft registration certificates after completing the necessary procedures, each containing the data set by the Implementing Regulations.
تصدر الهيئة شهادات تسجيل الطائرات بعد إتمام الإجراءات اللازمة لذلك على أن تتضمن كل شهادة البيانات التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 53
An aircraft is deregistered if its owner or lessee loses Saudi nationality, ownership passes to a foreigner, it is lost or permanently withdrawn, the owner requests it or a registration condition ceases; the owner must notify the Authority and return the certificate.
1- تشطب الطائرة من السجل في الحالات الآتية: أ - إذا فقد مالكها أو مستأجرها جنسيته السعودية. ب - إذا انتقلت ملكيتها إلى شخص أجنبي. ج - إذا فقدت الطائرة أو سحبت
- Article 54
The provisions on rights over aircraft apply to all civil aircraft in the Kingdom's territory whatever their nationality and to Saudi civil aircraft wherever they are, but not to state aircraft.
تطبق أحكام هذا الفصل على جميع الطائرات المدنية أيًّا كانت جنسيتها حال وجودها في إقليم المملكة وكذلك على الطائرات المدنية السعودية في أي مكان كانت، ولا تسري أحكا
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.