Article 82 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 82 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الرابع: صلاحية الطائرات للطيران
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 للطيران ، وعلى المشغل أن يقوم بإعداد جدول أوزان الطائرة وفقا لما تحدده الهيئة، وأن يحتفظ بهذا الجدول ولا يتصرف فيه إلا بإذن من الهيئة.
3- يجب تجهيز كل طائرة مسجلة في المملكة بالأجهزة والمعدات المنصوص عليها في ملاحق معاهدة شيكاغو.
وتحدد اللائحة الشروط والمتطلبات اللازمة لذلك.
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 82 explained in plain English
This article sets three technical obligations relating to the aircraft, and refers their details to the Authority and the Regulations:
- Technical records: Technical records must be kept for every aircraft registered in the Kingdom, in which the data the Authority specifies are entered.
- Weight and weight schedule: The weight of every aircraft for which the Authority issues or validates an airworthiness certificate must be determined. The operator must prepare the aircraft's weight schedule as the Authority specifies, keep it, and not deal with it except with the Authority's permission.
- Instruments and equipment: Every aircraft registered in the Kingdom must be equipped with the instruments and equipment provided for in the annexes to the Chicago Convention.
The Regulations set the conditions and requirements for this, and the text does not give their details.
Practical importance: These records and schedules are what is relied on to verify an aircraft's airworthiness, so they must be kept and be accurate. Dealing with the weight schedule without the Authority's permission contravenes the express text.
This article is linked to Article 81 on airworthiness certificates, since the duty to determine weight relates to every aircraft for which a certificate has been issued or validated, and to Article 83, which gives the Authority the right to inspect an aircraft to verify its airworthiness and to suspend its certificate if necessary. For the detailed requirements, consult the Regulations and the Authority, or a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A charter airline in Dammam operates a small fleet. It must keep a technical record for each aircraft in which it enters the data the Authority requests, and prepare a weight schedule for each aircraft, keeping it and not dealing with it except with the Authority's permission.
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 82 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Must a technical record be kept for every aircraft?
Yes. Technical records must be kept for every aircraft registered in the Kingdom, in which the data the Authority specifies are entered.
May the operator deal with an aircraft's weight schedule?
Only with the Authority's permission. The operator must prepare it and keep it.
What equipment must the aircraft be fitted with?
The instruments and equipment provided for in the annexes to the Chicago Convention; the Regulations set the necessary conditions and requirements.
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 80
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.
مع مراعاة الأحكام الواردة في هذا الفصل تطبق الأنظمة والمقاييس الفنية الدولية الواردة في معاهدة شيكاغو وملاحقها التي اعتمدتها المملكة لتحقيق أعلى مستويات السلامة
- 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 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.

