Article 75 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 75 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الثالث: الحجز على الطائرات
The article regulates appointing a custodian over an aircraft under precautionary seizure, and allows the custodian to operate it by decision of the body that imposed the seizure.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا وقع حجز تحفظي على الطائرة لا يجوز أن يُعيِّن حارسًا عليها غيرُ مالكها أو مشغلها إذا كان أحدهما هو المدين أو من يقوم مقامهما، ولا يمنع توقيع الحجز من قيام الحارس بتشغيل الطائرة بموجب قرار الجهة التي أوقعت الحجز .
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 75 explained in plain English
When a precautionary seizure is imposed on an aircraft, someone is needed to guard it and preserve it until the dispute ends. This article sets two rules on this:
First rule (appointing the custodian): No one other than the aircraft's owner or operator may appoint a custodian over it if either of them is the debtor, or anyone acting in their place. The wording concerns who has the power to appoint the custodian in this case: if the owner or operator is the debtor, it is that person, or whoever acts in their place, who appoints the custodian.
Second rule (operating the aircraft): The imposition of the seizure does not prevent the custodian from operating the aircraft, provided this is under a decision of the body that imposed the seizure. This allows the aircraft to remain in use and not sit idle for the whole period of the seizure, which may preserve its value and serve the interests of both parties.
This article is part of an integrated set of provisions: Article 74 allows the seizure to be lifted on a sufficient guarantee, and Article 76 requires the Authority to record the seizure of national aircraft in the register at the creditor's request after checking the supporting documents. Because the wording of the first rule can be read in more than one way in practice, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in enforcement and civil aviation matters when a seizure occurs.
Practical example
A cargo aircraft belonging to a company in Jeddah is seized as a precaution because of a debt, and the company has existing transport contracts. The appointed custodian can continue to operate the aircraft under these contracts if the body that imposed the seizure issues a decision to that effect.
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 75 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the aircraft be operated after it has been seized?
Yes. The seizure does not prevent the custodian from operating the aircraft under a decision of the body that imposed the seizure.
Who appoints the custodian if the aircraft's owner is the debtor?
The article provides that no one other than the owner or operator may appoint a custodian over it if either of them is the debtor, or anyone acting in their place.
More articles on Attaching Aircraft
- Article 62
Where an aircraft is attached or sold by force, creating or transferring Article 56 rights is not recognized if the debtor did so knowing of the proceedings and intending to harm the attaching creditor, the enforcing party or the buyer.
في حالة توقيع الحجز ، أو إجراء البيع الجبري لطائرة ، أو أي حق عليها؛ لا يجوز الاعتراف بإنشاء أو بنقل أي من الحقوق الواردة في الفقرة (1) من المادة (السادسة والخم
- Article 63
A forced sale of an aircraft follows the procedures of the laws in force and the Implementing Regulations; a sale breaching them can be annulled within six months, and the buyer takes ownership free of all rights.
1 - إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا في المملكة لتسديد الديون المستحقة عليها؛ فإن إجراءات البيع الجبري تتم وفقا للإجراءات التي تحددها الأحكام والأنظمة المطبقة في ال
- Article 65
A forced sale of an aircraft also covers the spare parts seized with it; the article governs auctioning them at two-thirds of value where the seizing creditor's debt has no security interest, and distributing the proceeds.
1- إذا تقرر بيع الطائرة جبريًّا وفقًا للمادة (الثالثة والستين) من هذا النظام فإن هذا البيع يشمل قطع الغيار المحجوز عليها، ويتم نقل ملكيتها للمشتري الجديد. 2- إذ
- Article 71
The article defines a precautionary seizure of an aircraft as any act that grounds the aircraft for a private interest through the courts or competent authorities, and gives the Authority the right to ground it for unpaid fees.
يقصد بالحجز التحفظي في مفهوم هذا الفصل: كل تصرف أيًّا كانت تسميته يتم بمقتضاه وقف الطائرة رعاية لمصلحة خاصة عن طريق القضاء أو السلطات المختصة لصالح الدائن أو ال
- Article 72
The article excludes from the seizure chapter the precautionary measures in bankruptcy proceedings and those taken for violating this Law, the customs or penal laws, or the security rules.
لا تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على الإجراءات التحفظية الخاصة بدعاوى الإفلاس، ولا على الإجراءات التحفظية التي تتخذ عند مخالفة أحكام هذا النظام، أو الأنظمة الجمركية ، أو
- Article 73
The article bars precautionary seizure of non-commercial State-service aircraft, scheduled-service aircraft and their indispensable spares, and commercial aircraft about to depart, except for a debt tied to the flight.
1 - لا يوقع الحجز التحفظي على ما يأتي : أ - الطائرات المخصصة لخدمة الدولة، ويستثنى من ذلك ما خصص لخدمة التجارة. ب - الطائرات المستخدمة فعلا وبصورة مطلقة على خط
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.