Article 86 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 86 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الخامس: مواصفات التشغيل
No operator may begin operating its aircraft before the Authority approves the operations specifications it prepares, which form part of its license and are binding.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي مشغل أن يبدأ في تشغيل طائرته إلا بعد اعتماد الهيئة لمواصفات التشغيل المعدة من قبل المشغل ، وتعد جزءًا من الترخيص الممنوح له، وتكون واجبة التطبيق، وللسلطة المختصة اعتمادها وتعديلها، وذلك وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام ولائحته.
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 86 explained in plain English
Operations specifications are the document an operator prepares to set out how it will operate its aircraft, and this article regulates their approval and legal weight.
- Prior condition: No operator may begin operating its aircraft until the Authority has approved the operations specifications it has prepared.
- Part of the license: The approved specifications are part of the license granted to the operator, so violating them means violating the license conditions.
- Binding force: The specifications must be applied.
- Approval and amendment: The competent authority may approve and amend them.
All this is done in accordance with the provisions of this Law and its Regulations, and the article does not describe the content of the specifications or the approval procedures in detail.
Practical effect: Anyone who obtains a license to operate aircraft must not actually begin operations before the operations specifications are approved, must comply with them once approved, and should bear in mind that the competent authority may amend them.
This article follows Article 85, which requires carrying the prescribed documents and records on international flights, and precedes Article 87, which requires the operator to prepare an operations manual for each aircraft it operates, including the operations specifications, and to have it approved by the Authority. Anyone establishing an air operator may seek the help of a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A new charter airline in Riyadh has obtained a license and prepared two aircraft for operation. It may not carry out its first flight before the Authority approves the operations specifications the company prepared; once approved, they become part of its license and must be applied.
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 86 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Can operations begin straight after getting the license?
No. An operator may not begin operating its aircraft until the Authority has approved the operations specifications it prepared.
What is the legal status of operations specifications?
They are part of the license granted to the operator, and they must be applied.
Can operations specifications be amended after approval?
Yes. The competent authority may approve and amend them in accordance with the provisions of the Law and its Regulations.
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 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
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.