Article 61 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 61 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثاني: الحقوق على الطائرات
Privileged debts (salvage rewards, extraordinary preservation expenses and fees payable) rank ahead of all other rights over aircraft; they are registered at the creditor's request within 3 months.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تقدم الديون الممتازة على جميع الحقوق والديون الأخرى التي تنشأ على الطائرات ، وهي كالآتي:
أ - المكافآت المستحقة عن إنقاذ الطائرة .
ب - المصاريف غير العادية اللازمة للمحافظة على الطائرة .
وذلك بشرط أن تكون هذه الديون الممتازة مقترنة بحق التتبع وفقا لقانون الدولة التي تم في إقليمها أعمال الإنقاذ أو المحافظة.
ج - الرسوم الواجبة الأداء بموجب الأنظمة واللوائح.
2 - تكون مرتبة هذه الديون على عكس الترتيب التاريخي للحوادث التي كانت سببًا في نشأتها.
3 - تقوم الهيئة بقيد هذه الديون الممتازة على الطائرات المسجلة في السجل بناء على طلب الدائن إذا تم تقديم هذا الطلب خلال الأشهر الثلاثة التالية لاكتمال الأعمال التي كانت سببًا في نشأتها، ولا يجوز التسليم بأي من هذه الديون إذا انقضت مدة الثلاثة شهور المذكورة إلا إذا كان قد تم الاتفاق على مبلغ الديون أو تم رفع دعوى قضائية للمطالبة بها، ويحدد قانون المحكمة المرفوع إليها النزاع أسباب انقطاع أو إيقاف هذه المدة.
4 - تمتد الأولوية التي امتازت بها الحقوق المشار إليها في الفقرة (1/د) من المادة (السادسة والخمسين) من هذا النظام إلى جميع المبالغ المضمونة وأعبائها التي تكون قد استحقت فقط خلال السنوات الثلاثة المتقدمة على بدء إجراءات التنفيذ وخلال هذه الإجراءات.
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 61 explained in plain English
This article sets out the privileged debts that rank ahead of all other rights and debts over aircraft, including the rights in Article 56 such as ownership and mortgage.
The privileged debts:
- Rewards due for salvaging the aircraft.
- Extraordinary expenses necessary to preserve the aircraft.
- The fees payable under the laws and regulations.
The first two debts must be accompanied by a right of pursuit under the law of the state in whose territory the salvage or preservation work was done.
Ranking: these debts rank in the reverse of the historical order of the events that gave rise to them; the more recent comes first.
Registration and its period: the Authority registers privileged debts on registered aircraft at the creditor's request if he submits it within 3 months of completion of the work that gave rise to them. After the period has passed, a debt is not recognized unless its amount has been agreed or a lawsuit has been filed to claim it, and the law of the court before which the dispute is brought determines the grounds for interrupting or suspending the period.
Extent of the mortgage's priority: the priority of the mortgage right in paragraph 1(d) of Article 56 extends only to the secured sums and their charges that fell due during the three years preceding the start of enforcement proceedings and during those proceedings.
Anyone with a salvage or extraordinary maintenance debt would do well to request registration before the period expires, and to consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases or enforcement.
Practical example
A specialized team salvaged a cargo aircraft involved in an accident on a dirt runway, and became entitled to a salvage reward. If the reward is accompanied by a right of pursuit under the law of the place of salvage, it is a privileged debt that ranks ahead of the bank's mortgage, and the team must request its registration with the Authority within 3 months of completion of the salvage work.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 61 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Which debts rank ahead of an aircraft mortgage?
Rewards due for salvaging the aircraft, extraordinary expenses necessary to preserve it (provided they are accompanied by a right of pursuit), and fees payable under the laws and regulations.
How long is there to request registration of a privileged debt on an aircraft?
The request is submitted within the three months following completion of the work that gave rise to the debt; after that it is not recognized unless its amount has been agreed or a lawsuit has been filed to claim it.
How are privileged debts ranked among themselves?
They rank in the reverse of the historical order of the events that gave rise to them.
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.