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Required Documents AC01-AERODROME MANUAL (AC) AC02-SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) MANUAL) (AC) AC03-AERODROME EMERGENCY PLAN (AEP) MANUAL (AC) AC04-AERODROME OBSTACLE SURVEY REPORTS (IF INITIAL CERTIFICATION) (AC) AC05- SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT (AC) AC06-AERONAUTICAL STUDY REPORT , IF APPLICABLE (AC) AC07-APPROVAL FOR OPERATION OF AERODROME FROM MUNICIPALITY. (AC) AC08-AGREEMENT FOR PROVIDING AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR AERODROME. (AC) AC09-AERODROME LAND OWNERSHIP PROOF OR LEASE AGREEMENT. (AC) AC11- Aerodrome Security Plan (WASP), Letter of acceptance from GACA AVSEC AC12-ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED BY THE PRESIDENT. (AC) July 30, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) concluded its participation in the Africa-Indian Ocean Aviation Week (AFI Week 2024) conference, hosted by Gabon’s capital city of Libreville. AFI Week 2024 aimed to continue developing strategies and measures necessary to support and enhance the aviation industry on the continent. GACA, represented by Executive Vice President of Air Transport and International Cooperation Ali bin Mohammed Rajab, announced during his speech at the opening ceremony that the Kingdom has allocated $150,000 to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan) and the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa (AFI SECFAL Plan). Rajab noted that the initiative aims to enhance security and safety levels in air transport. The amount, he said, is part of the $1 million donation made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the ICAO's No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative. He also indicated that the Kingdom is one of the largest supporters of international organizations and a pioneer in supporting the aviation industry. Moreover, he stressed that the Kingdom is continuously committed to contributing to the growth of this industry, aiming to enhance its performance. On the sidelines of AFI Week 2024, Gabon Vice President Joseph Berre received the Saudi ambassador to Gabon, Faraj bin Nader, and GACA's Rajab in Libreville. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations, areas of cooperation, and ways to enhance and develop them in the field of civil aviation between the two countries. In a separate meeting, Rajab met with African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Secretary-General Adefunke Adeyemi, discussing ways to enhance cooperation between the Kingdom and AFCAC in various fields of civil aviation.

July 27, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its tour of several events in the United Kingdom (UK) held on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, which took place from July 22 to 26 at Farnborough Airport in the United Kingdom, it was reported today. President of GACA and head of its delegation Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej reviewed the investment opportunities enabled by the National Aviation Strategy and assessed the extent of the developments led by GACA in the system aiming to enable growth and innovation in the aviation industry. During their visit to the exhibition, Al-Duailej and the accompanying delegation were briefed on the latest technologies, innovations, and solutions in the aviation industry, including advanced air mobility, space, and sustainability. They also explored the modern technologies offered by the participating companies in the field of civil aviation. The delegation also visited Cranfield University in Britain, where they were briefed on the university's research in aviation sciences, including the latest technologies offered by its digital air traffic control center. GACA also held a roundtable meeting with Saudi-British Joint Business Council to discuss investment and cooperation opportunities in the civil aviation sector. The meeting addressed ways to enhance investment relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK, as well as efforts to develop economic and investment ties between them. It also discussed ways to develop high-quality investments and enable the private sector to benefit from investment opportunities in both countries. On the sidelines of the exhibition, GACA signed a memorandum of cooperation with the German company Lilium, a leading manufacturer of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, with the aim of contributing to the development of the regulatory framework for advanced air mobility in Saudi Arabia. The memorandum strengthens GACA's cooperation with international companies to enable advanced air mobility applications in Saudi Arabia and aligns with its efforts to establish regulations and rules that encourage the growth of this type of mobility while ensuring the highest levels of safety, security, and passenger protection. The Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS) also signed a framework agreement with the British Air Traffic Services (NATS) to enhance airport capacity. In addition, SANS signed a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz University, and Cranfield University, with the goal of developing aviation science research between the two parties and exchanging expertise among specialists. flynas, Saudi Arabia's leading low-cost air carrier, also signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 160 new aircraft, including 30 wide-body A330neo aircraft and 130 single-aisle aircraft of various models from the A320 family, bringing the total volume of its aircraft purchase orders to 280 within seven years

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July 4, 2024 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unanimously won the presidency of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) during the 28th Ordinary General Assembly meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, stated that this victory reflects the Kingdom's high status in international and regional organizations and its significant role in civil aviation. Al-Jasser expressed gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their support of the civil aviation sector. He emphasized the importance of enhancing joint Arab efforts in the air transport industry to achieve the highest safety standards. As a founding member of ACAO, Saudi Arabia has consistently supported the organization's goals and participated in its executive council and technical committees. The Kingdom hosts the regional headquarters for safety oversight and the cooperative aviation security program for Middle Eastern countries. It also supports the International Civil Aviation Organization's "No Country Left Behind" initiative with $1 million. Al-Jasser affirmed the Kingdom's commitment to developing and supporting ACAO and enhancing its international role, while cooperating with Arab and international partners to promote the aviation industry. Saudi Arabia, one of the founders of ACAO, established in 1996 and affiliated with the Arab League, aims to enhance cooperation among Arab countries in civil aviation development.

September 10, 2024 The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, stated that there is a significant transformation taking place in the civil aviation sector in Saudi Arabia. This transformation is part of the National Aviation Strategy, which aims to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of building a prosperous and diversified economy. Al-Duailej made these remarks during Saudi Arabia's participation at the first forum of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Montreal, Canada. The forum, held from September 9 to 12, 2024, was attended by the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Salvatore Sciacchitano, as well as representatives from member states of the "ICAO" organization and leaders of the aviation sector worldwide. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's participation in the forum highlights its leading role in advanced and international civil aviation. Earlier in the year, GACA launched the Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap, which aligns with the National Aviation Strategy. This roadmap outlines comprehensive changes based on seven main pillars: adopting technical solutions, developing infrastructure, achieving comprehensive governance, building trust, attracting investments, setting regulations and systems, and empowering human capital. Al-Duailej also called on civil aviation authorities worldwide to collaborate, address challenges, and build partnerships to ensure the success of advanced air mobility technologies globally. As part of the forum, the ICAO presented the Advanced Air Mobility Global Academic Paper Competition award to students from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). This acknowledgement underscores the Kingdom's capabilities in advanced air mobility and its commitment to integrating and enabling it, which aligns with its ambitious goals to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2060. The Kingdom's investments in electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) were also highlighted as part of its commitment to advanced research. Additionally, the GACA President held separate bilateral meetings with Salvatore Sciacchitano and the President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Barry Butler, discussing ways to enhance international cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

July 24, 2024 The President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, visited on Tuesday the Farnborough International Airshow, accompanied by the vice-presidents and CEOs of companies operating in the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom. The President of GACA and the accompanying delegation toured the exhibition’s pavilions and discovered the aviation industry’s modern technologies, innovations, and solutions, including advanced air mobility, space, and environmental sustainability. GACA signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with Lilium, the leading German company in the manufacture of electric aircraft and the field of regional air transport, to develop and implement the regulatory framework necessary to introduce vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft into the Kingdom beginning from 2026. During the visit, Al-Duailej met with the CEOs of Embraer, a Boeing company Wisk, and Lilium, where aspects of cooperation in the civil aviation industry were reviewed. The President of GACA attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation (SACA), Prince Sultan University (PSU) and the British Cranfield University, which aims to develop aviation science research and exchange experiences between specialists.

This news article is available only in the Arabic version.

July 22, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its June report on the performance of domestic and international airports in Saudi Arabia. Airports are assessed based on 11 operational performance standards, which align with strategic objectives to enhance services and ensure a seamless traveler experience at Kingdom airports. The report ranked King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport, Abha International Airport, Al-Ahsa International Airport, and Qurayyat Airport highly. GACA categorizes airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers, ensuring a transparent approach. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the top spot in the category of airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, with an 82% compliance rate. Following closely behind was King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 64%. In the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport tied for first place, with a 91% compliance rate. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport followed with a 82% compliance rate. In the 2 to 5 million annual passenger category, Abha International Airport and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan demonstrated a 100% compliance rate. However, Abha International Airport outperformed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport by surpassing higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria. In the category of less than 2 million passengers annually, Al-Ahsa International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. Qurayyat Airport came first in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate. It outperformed all competing airports regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards focused on critical passenger touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). These metrics ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for all passengers and are aligned with international best practices.

21 july, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued an index for the classification of air transport service providers and airports based on the number of complaints filed by travelers to the authority in June. GACA stated that the total number of complaints submitted by passengers against air carriers in June amounted to 900. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) was the least carrier complained about, with 12 complaints per 100,000 passengers. The state-run airline recorded a timely complaint handling rate of 99%. Flynas ranked second, with 14 complaints and a closure rate of 100%. Meanwhile, Flyadeal came third, with 18 complaints per 100,000 passengers, reporting a timely complaint closure rate of 96%. The most frequent complaints for June were about luggage, boarding and ticketing services. For the same month, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported the lowest complaints, at a rate of 0.4% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive over six million passengers annually. Only 16 complaints were submitted by travelers, with a timely complaint handling rate of 77%. Abha International Airport was the least airport complained about, at a rate of 1% per 100,000 passengers, among international airports that receive less than six million passengers annually. Only eight complaints were submitted, with a timely complaint handling rate of 100%. For domestic reports, Bisha Airport recorded the lowest complaints per 100,000 passengers with one complaint, or 3%, recording a timely complaint processing rate of 100%.

This news article is available only in the Arabic version.

This news article is available only in the Arabic version

July 11, 2024 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) released air-traffic statistics showing significant growth in the number of passengers and flights during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. According to the statistics, there was a 17% increase in the number of passengers over the past six months, reaching approximately 62 million passengers, compared to 53 million passengers during the same period last year. The number of flights also reached approximately 446,000, marking a 12% increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 399,000 flights. Additionally, the airfreight volume in the first six months of 2024 witnessed a 41% increase, reaching 606,000 tons compared to the 430,000 tons in the same period of 2023. During the first half of this year, GACA launched several development projects, including the development and expansion of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, the inauguration of the development and expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport, the launch of the new additional international departure terminal at Taif International Airport, and the introduction of the self-driving air taxi experience for the first time during the Hajj season. Furthermore, the authority granted the first operating permit for building cleaning using drones, which illustrates its commitment to enabling safe and innovative advanced air mobility solutions. It also launched a knowledge-testing center for aviation personnel and the first phase of electronic gates at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. In terms of service quality provided to passengers, GACA won two gold awards for Best Customer Service and Best Public Service Center in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, the Consumer Protection Association award for excellence in protecting passengers' rights, and the certificate in the quality management system for monitoring flight safety and environmental sustainability. The aviation sector saw several achievements in the past six months, including 16 Saudi airports obtaining the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) accreditation for 2024. Additionally, Saudi airports continued their progress in ranking among the top 50 airports worldwide, as announced in the evaluation results of the international air transport rating organization Skytrax. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah won the first-place award as the best regional airport in the Middle East during the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony held in Frankfurt, Germany, and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah achieved the highest ratings on the Airports Council International list for 2023. Moreover, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three of the Saudi Airports Awards for 2023, including the award for the best airport in the category 5-15 million passengers, the award for the best customs inspection area, and the award for the best services for people with disabilities. SAUDIA also received recognition, winning awards for being the most advanced airline in the world and having the best economy-class catering for 2024 in the Skytrax global ranking. According to Skytrax, Flynas was crowned the fourth-best low-cost airline in the world for the second consecutive year and the first in the Middle East for the seventh consecutive year, the most important global benchmark for measuring airline performance. All these achievements are part of the initiatives and programs launched by GACA, aiming to contribute to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally, and internationally, in line with the National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector. The strategy aims to make the aviation sector in the Kingdom the first in the Middle East by reaching 330 million passengers, increasing air freight capacity to 4.5 million tons, and raising air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from Saudi airports by 2030.