Foreword (v5)

LEGAL BASISp.1

These implementing regulations, hereafter referred to as the General Authority of Civil Aviation Regulations (GACAR), are issued under the authority provided by the Civil Aviation Law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The GACAR are an essential element of the Saudi Arabia State Safety Program.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDp.1

Civil aviation has a long history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the early years of civil aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the aviation activity was not formally regulated. As aviation activity increased and international safety norms evolved, it became necessary for aviation regulations. The first aviation safety regulatory approach implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was to adopt the aviation safety regulations published by the United States of America. These regulations served the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia well but they did not properly address the unique characteristics of civil aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Eventually the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia promulgated its own set of civil aviation regulations but these regulations were still based, in large measure, on the regulations of the United States of America.

With the publication of the GACAR, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now has civil aviation regulations covering all aspects of civil aviation activity in the Kingdom.

ICAO COMPLIANCEp.1

The goal when writing the GACAR was to comply, to the maximum extent practicable, with the Standards and Recommended Practices published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). As required by the Convention of International Civil Aviation, to which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a signatory, all significant differences between these GACAR and the Standards and Recommended Practices are published in the Saudi Arabia Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

APPLICABILITY, SCOPE AND RELATED REGULATIONSp.1

The GACAR apply to all civil aviation activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Other related regulations that should be consulted include: • Implementing Regulations for the Civil Aviation Tariff Act (GACA) • Air Transport Regulations (GACA) • Consumer Protection Regulations (GACA) • Security Regulations (GACA) • Facilitation Regulations (GACA) • National Transport Safety Center Regulations (NTSC)

RELATED PUBLICATIONSp.2

The GACAR are complemented by several additional publications. Those that are published by, or on behalf of, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), may be obtained by contacting the GACA and those that are published by ICAO and other States can be obtained directly from those authorities. The following related publications are worthy of special mention:

• The Saudi Arabia Civil Aviation Safety Policy Statement published by the GACA Board of Directors • The GACAR Enforcement Policy published by the GACA Board of Directors • The Saudi Arabia Aeronautic Information Publication (AIP) published by the GACA • Advisory Circulars published by the GACA • Other regulatory documents published by other authorities and incorporated by reference in the GACARs (e.g. ICAO, FAA, other)

AMENDMENTSp.2

All amendments to the GACAR are announced and made available on the GACA website at www.gaca.gov.sa.

FEEDBACKp.2

Comments and other feedback concerning the GACAR are welcomed. All feedback should be addressed to the Executive Vice President, Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Sector, General Authority of Civil Aviation.

APPROVALp.2

Under the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation by Article 179 of the Civil Aviation Law, I hereby approve these GACAR. Original signed by ... H.E. Sulaiman Al-Hamdan President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Dated 25 January 2016 (15/4/1437H)