Article 98 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
المادة 98 من نظام الطيران المدني · الفصل الأول: القواعد والتعليمات الواجب تطبيقها
The article sets the scope of the air operations part: Saudi aircraft operators, Saudi operators using foreign aircraft, and foreign operators inside the territory, as well as the people they employ and those on board.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام تطبق الأحكام الواردة في هذا الباب على الآتي:
1 - العمليات الجوية التي يقوم بها مشغل طائرة مدنية مسجلة في المملكة وتشمل الآتي:
أ - عمليات النقل الجوي التجاري الداخلي والدولي المنتظم وغير المنتظم.
ب - عمليات النقل الجوي الخاص الداخلي والدولي.
ج - عمليات الأشغال الجوية داخل المملكة وخارجها.
2 - العمليات الجوية الواردة في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة التي يقوم بها مشغل سعودي بطائرة مسجلة في دولة أجنبية.
3 - عمليات النقل الجوي التجاري وعمليات النقل الجوي الخاص ، أو الأشغال الجوية التي يقوم بها مشغل أجنبي بطائرة مسجلة في دولة أجنبية داخل إقليم المملكة .
4 - أي شخص يستخدمه مشغل يقوم بأي من العمليات الواردة في الفقرتين (1، 2) من هذه المادة.
5 - أي شخص على متن طائرة تعمل في أي من العمليات الواردة في الفقرتين (1، 2) من هذه المادة.
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 98 explained in plain English
This article sets out to whom the provisions of this part on air operations apply, subject to Article 3, which sets the Law's general scope (including civil aviation activities within the territory, civil aircraft registered in the Kingdom, and State aircraft other than military ones).
The provisions of this part apply to:
- Operations carried out by an operator of a civil aircraft registered in the Kingdom, which include: scheduled and non-scheduled domestic and international commercial air transport, domestic and international private air transport, and aerial work inside and outside the Kingdom.
- The same operations when carried out by a Saudi operator with an aircraft registered in a foreign State.
- Commercial and private air transport and aerial work carried out by a foreign operator with an aircraft registered in a foreign State inside the Kingdom's territory.
- Any person employed by an operator carrying out any of the operations in paragraphs (1) and (2).
- Any person on board an aircraft engaged in any of the operations in paragraphs (1) and (2).
Note that paragraphs (4) and (5) are limited to the operations of paragraphs (1) and (2), that is, operations of operators with Saudi aircraft or Saudi operators, and do not mention the foreign operator's operations in paragraph (3).
The practical effect is that the air operations rules concern not only companies but extend to their staff and to those on board their aircraft in the specified cases. It is followed by Article 99, which requires the operator of a Saudi aircraft to observe the provisions of the Law wherever it is. To determine whether a particular operation is subject to these provisions, one may consult a lawyer specializing in civil aviation law.
Practical example
A Saudi company in Riyadh leases an aircraft registered in a European country to carry out international charter flights. The provisions of the air operations part apply to these operations because they are carried out by a Saudi operator with an aircraft registered in a foreign State, and they also apply to the company's staff and those on board the aircraft.
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 98 of the Saudi Civil Aviation Law
Do the air operations rules apply to a Saudi company using a foreign aircraft?
Yes. The article covers air operations carried out by a Saudi operator with an aircraft registered in a foreign State.
Do the provisions cover foreign operators?
They cover commercial and private air transport and aerial work carried out by a foreign operator with a foreign aircraft inside the Kingdom's territory.
Are passengers subject to these provisions?
The article covers any person on board an aircraft engaged in the operations in paragraphs (1) and (2).
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Air Operations and Flight Safety
- Article 14
Unauthorized persons may not interfere with or obstruct the flight crew during flight, and no one may tamper with the aircraft or endanger its safety, its crew or its passengers.
يحظر على أي شخص غير مخول رسميا أن يتدخل في أعمال أي عضو من أعضاء هيئة القيادة أو يعوقه عن عمله أثناء فترة الطيران ، كما يحظر على أي شخص العبث بأي جزء من أجزاء ا
- Article 85
No aircraft may operate in the Kingdom's territory on an international flight unless it carries the documents and records required by the Chicago Convention and its annexes and any others the Authority specifies.
لا يجوز لأي طائرة أن تعمل في إقليم المملكة أثناء رحلة دولية إلا إذا كانت تحمل الوثائق والسجلات الواجب حملها طبقًا لأحكام معاهدة شيكاغو ملاحقها وأي وثائق أو سجلا
- Article 86
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.
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، ول
- Article 87
The operator must prepare an operations manual for each aircraft it operates, including the operations specifications, for pilots and operations staff to use as guidance, and have the Authority approve it.
على المشغل أن يعد دليلا للعمليات ولكل طائرة يشغلها متضمنا مواصفات التشغيل ليستعمله ويسترشد به الطيارون وموظفو العمليات واعتماده من الهيئة وفقًا لما تحدده اللائح
- Article 88
An operator may not run a new air route or extend an existing one before one or more preparatory flights with no passengers except those needed to operate the aircraft; mail and goods may be carried, and the Authority may exempt.
لا يجوز للمشغل تشغيل أي خط جوي جديد أو مد خط قائم قبل إجراء رحلة، أو رحلات تمهيدية ، ولا يجوز له فيها حمل أشخاص عدا الأشخاص اللازمين لتشغيل الطائرة ، ويجوز له ح
- Article 99
The operator of a civil aircraft registered in the Kingdom engaged in air transport or aerial work must observe the Law's provisions wherever the aircraft is, unless they conflict with the laws of the States where it operates.
مع مراعاة أحكام المادة (الرابعة) من هذا النظام؛ يجب على مشغل أي طائرة مدنية مسجلة في المملكة وتعمل في النقل الجوي أو الأشغال الجوية أن يراعي في تشغيلها أينما كا
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.