Article 83 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 83 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الرابع: صلاحية الطائرات للطيران
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للهيئة تفتيش الطائرة للتحقق من صلاحيتها للطيران، وتعليق شهادة صلاحية الطيران إذا لزم الأمر، وإصدار التعليمات اللازمة لذلك، وفقا للضوابط والإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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 83 explained in plain English
This article gives the General Authority of Civil Aviation an important oversight tool to make sure aircraft remain airworthy after receiving their airworthiness certificate, not merely when it is issued.
The Authority's powers under the article:
- inspecting the aircraft to verify its airworthiness;
- suspending the airworthiness certificate if necessary;
- issuing the necessary instructions for this.
The Authority exercises these powers under the controls and procedures set by the Regulations; the article itself does not say when suspension is necessary or what its procedures are, but leaves that to the Regulations.
Practical effect: Suspending the certificate means in practice that the aircraft has no valid airworthiness certificate, so it may not fly. The operator must cooperate with the inspection and carry out the instructions issued to it.
This article follows Article 82, which requires technical records for every aircraft, its weight schedule and its prescribed equipment, matters an inspector would normally examine. It is followed by Article 84 on licensing aircraft manufacture, maintenance and overhaul. Anyone whose aircraft's certificate has been suspended and who wants to know how to object should consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law or administrative cases.
Practical example
Authority inspectors inspect a private airline's aircraft in Jeddah and find observations concerning its airworthiness. The Authority may suspend the aircraft's airworthiness certificate and issue instructions for the necessary repairs, under the controls set by the 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 83 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can the Authority inspect an aircraft at any time?
The Authority may inspect an aircraft to verify its airworthiness, under the controls and procedures set by the Regulations.
Can an aircraft's airworthiness certificate be suspended?
Yes. The Authority may suspend the airworthiness certificate if necessary and issue the necessary instructions.
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 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 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.