Article 80 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 80 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الرابع: صلاحية الطائرات للطيران
The article applies the international technical regulations and standards in the Chicago Convention and its annexes, as adopted by the Kingdom, to aircraft airworthiness, to achieve the highest safety levels with regard to the environment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة الأحكام الواردة في هذا الفصل تطبق الأنظمة والمقاييس الفنية الدولية الواردة في معاهدة شيكاغو وملاحقها التي اعتمدتها المملكة لتحقيق أعلى مستويات السلامة للطائرات والملاحة الجوية بما يتلاءم مع اعتبارات المحافظة على البيئة.
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 80 explained in plain English
This article, in the fourth chapter on the airworthiness of aircraft, sets the technical reference on which the chapter's provisions are built.
Its content: The international technical regulations and standards in the Chicago Convention and its annexes are applied, provided they are ones adopted by the Kingdom, subject to the provisions of this chapter itself.
The objectives the article states:
- achieving the highest levels of safety for aircraft;
- achieving the highest levels of safety for air navigation;
- consistency with environmental protection considerations.
What this means in practice: When considering an aircraft's airworthiness, one looks first to the provisions of this chapter, then to the international standards adopted in the Kingdom from the Chicago Convention and its annexes. This keeps airworthiness standards in the Kingdom in line with international standards, which makes mutual recognition of certificates and international operation easier.
It is followed by Article 81, which gives the Authority the power to issue airworthiness certificates for aircraft registered in the Kingdom and to validate foreign certificates, and which bars any aircraft from flying in the territory without a valid certificate. Operators and maintenance companies that need to determine the standards that apply in a particular case may consult the Authority or a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
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 80 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
What technical standards apply to aircraft airworthiness in Saudi Arabia?
The international technical regulations and standards in the Chicago Convention and its annexes that the Kingdom has adopted, subject to the provisions of this chapter.
Do the airworthiness standards take the environment into account?
Yes. The article provides for achieving the highest levels of safety in a way consistent with environmental protection considerations.
More articles on Airworthiness and Maintenance of Aircraft
- 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 70
Before buying, leasing out or leasing any aircraft, a Saudi operator must verify that the aircraft meets the technical conditions and standards set by the Authority.
على المشغل السعودي قبل شراء أي طائرة ، أو تأجيرها، أو استئجارها؛ التحقق من توافر الشروط والمستويات الفنية التي تحددها الهيئة في الطائرة .
- Article 81
The Authority issues airworthiness certificates for aircraft registered in the Kingdom and validates foreign ones; no aircraft may fly in the territory without a valid certificate, and some domestic flights may be exempted.
1- تصدر الهيئة شهادات الصلاحية للطيران للطائرات المسجلة في المملكة، ولها اعتماد أي شهادة صلاحية طائرة للطيران صادرة من دولة أخرى لطائرة مسجلة في المملكة وفقا لل
- Article 82
The article requires technical records for every aircraft registered in the Kingdom, determining the aircraft's weight and preparing its weight schedule, and equipping it with the instruments prescribed in the Chicago Convention annexes.
1- يجب الاحتفاظ بسجلات فنية لكل طائرة مسجلة في المملكة، تدون فيها البيانات التي تحددها الهيئة. 2- يجب أن يحدد وزن كل طائرة تصدر أو تعتمد لها الهيئة شهادة صلاحية
- Article 83
The article gives the Authority the right to inspect an aircraft to verify its airworthiness, suspend its airworthiness certificate if necessary, and issue the necessary instructions, under the Regulations' controls.
للهيئة تفتيش الطائرة للتحقق من صلاحيتها للطيران، وتعليق شهادة صلاحية الطيران إذا لزم الأمر، وإصدار التعليمات اللازمة لذلك، وفقا للضوابط والإجراءات التي تحددها ا
- Article 84
The article requires prior licensing by the Authority to manufacture aircraft or parts in the Kingdom and prior licensing for maintenance and overhaul, and places the Authority's oversight costs on the companies.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقضي به الأنظمة الأخرى: 1 - لا يجوز صنع أي طائرة أو جزء منها في المملكة دون الحصول على ترخيص مسبق بذلك من الهيئة وفقا للأنظمة والقواعد المطبق
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.