Article 6 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 6 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: سيادة المملكة وسلطاتها
The Authority may inspect aircraft, prevent them from flying and seize their documents to monitor compliance with the Civil Aviation Law; the Implementing Regulations set the procedures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقرره الأنظمة الأخرى والمعاهدات الدولية؛ فإن للهيئة الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ومنعها من الطيران أو حجز أي وثائق تتعلق بها لمراقبة تنفيذ أحكام هذا النظام، وتحدد اللائحة أصول التفتيش ومنع الطيران وحجز الوثائق.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article gives the Authority direct supervisory tools over aircraft, to monitor compliance with the provisions of the law. There are three tools:
- Inspecting aircraft.
- Preventing them from flying.
- Seizing any documents relating to them.
The text places limits on these powers:
- They are exercised without prejudice to what other laws and international treaties provide, so they do not override those provisions.
- Their purpose is to monitor compliance with the provisions of the law.
- The Implementing Regulations set the rules for inspection, preventing flight and seizing documents, that is, the detailed procedures for exercising them.
This power applies what Article 5 provides, namely that the Authority is the body responsible for all civil aviation affairs. Alongside the Authority, Article 7 gives customs, security, passport, and health and agricultural quarantine personnel the right to inspect within their own jurisdictions, in the presence of a representative of the Authority.
The text does not specify particular cases in which flight is prevented; that is left to the Implementing Regulations. Anyone whose aircraft has been grounded or whose documents have been seized can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases and aviation law.
Practical example
The Authority suspected that a private aircraft at Riyadh airport did not meet the requirements of the law, so it inspected the aircraft, seized some of its documents and temporarily prevented it from taking off. The Authority does this to monitor compliance with the law and according to the rules set by the Implementing Regulations.
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 6 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the Authority prevent an aircraft from flying?
Yes. The Authority has the right to inspect aircraft, prevent them from flying or seize their documents in order to monitor compliance with the provisions of the law.
Where are the aircraft inspection procedures found?
The Implementing Regulations set the rules for inspection, preventing flight and seizing documents.
More articles on Flight Permits and Aircraft Inspection
- Article 7
Customs, security, passport, and health and agricultural quarantine personnel and any other competent body may inspect aircraft, persons and cargo within their jurisdiction, in the presence of a representative of the Authority.
لموظفي الجمارك والأمن والجوازات والحجر الصحي والزراعي وأي جهة مختصة أخرى الحق في تفتيش الطائرات ، أو أي شخص، أو حمولة على متنها وفقا لاختصاصاتها المقررة لها بمو
- Article 8
Passengers, crew members and consignors of goods must follow the residence, passport, customs, and health and agricultural quarantine rules when entering, staying in and leaving the Kingdom.
على الركاب وأعضاء الطاقم ومرسلي البضائع عند دخول المملكة والإقامة فيها والخروج منها اتباع الأنظمة والتعليمات والبيانات المتعلقة بالإقامة وجوازات السفر والجمارك
- Article 9
No aircraft may operate in the Kingdom's territory without a license or permit issued by the Authority; it is personal and cannot be assigned to others, and the Implementing Regulations set its conditions.
للهيئة صلاحية إصدار التراخيص والتصاريح للطائرات ، ولا يجوز لأي طائرة أن تعمل في إقليم المملكة إلا بموجب ترخيص أو تصريح تصدره الهيئة، ويعد الترخيص أو التصريح شخص
- Article 10
The article sets the requirements for an aircraft operating in the Kingdom: registration, a valid airworthiness certificate, markings, equipment, crew licenses and insurance, with possible exemptions for test and training aircraft except insurance.
1 - يجب أن تتوافر في الطائرة التي تعمل في إقليم المملكة ، الشروط الآتية: أ - أن تكون مسجلة في الدولة التابعة لها أو مسجلة وفقا لقواعد التسجيل الدولي أو المشترك.
- Article 11
No aircraft operating in the Kingdom may be fitted with radio equipment without approval of the state of registration, and it may only be used for air navigation purposes by the flight crew.
لا يجوز تجهيز أي طائرة تعمل في إقليم المملكة بأي أجهزة لاسلكية ما لم يكن لديها موافقة بذلك من السلطات المختصة في الدولة المسجلة فيها أو سلطة تسجيل العلامة العام
- Article 12
No dangerous goods may be carried by aircraft without a permit from the Authority and according to the procedures set by the Implementing Regulations, subject to international rules on carrying dangerous goods.
مع مراعاة الأنظمة الدولية المطبقة في نقل المواد الخطرة لا يجوز أن ينقل بالطائرة أي مواد خطرة إلا بتصريح من الهيئة. ووفقا للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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.