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Aviation Law, 5771-2011

חוק הטיס, תשע"א-2011

Published: 2011-04-13Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-08-02 · Last amended 2026-07-28✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

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Chapter I: Definitions

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"crew member" – one of the following:

(1)a person who performs a function on the aircraft during a flight, even if not a flight crew member, who was assigned to that function by the aerial operator of the aircraft;
(2)a person who receives flight training or undergoes a flight test for the purpose of obtaining a flight crew member licence or a rating therein, or for the purpose of maintaining rights under the licence or rating therein;

"flight crew member school" – an institution at which training for flight crew member positions is provided;

"the Convention" – the Convention on International Civil Aviation signed in Chicago on the 21st day of Kislev 5705 (7 December 1944), including the Annexes to the said Convention and amendments made thereto, to the extent that the State of Israel has acceded to those amendments;

"International Aviation Organisation" (ICAO) – the International Civil Aviation Organization, established by the Convention;

"aviation laws" – as defined in the Civil Aviation Authority Law;

"late payment fees" and "shekel interest" – as defined in the Interest and Linkage Law;

"rating" – an authorisation forming part of a flight crew member licence, which sets out conditions, rights and restrictions in connection with the use of the licence;

"instruction of an authorised security body" – a professional directive issued pursuant to section 10 of the Regulation of Security in Public Bodies Law, 5758-1998;

"the Technical Instructions for Dangerous Goods" – the instructions contained in the publication "Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air" published by the International Aviation Organisation, as updated from time to time;

"air traffic instructions" – instructions issued pursuant to sections 82 or 92;

"operation", in relation to an aircraft – use of an aircraft for the purpose of flight or flying of an aircraft, including causing or permitting such use;

"commercial operation" – operation of an aircraft for the purposes of a business whose principal activity is the carriage of passengers, the transport of goods or the provision of a service, by means of an aircraft, for remuneration;

"general operation" – operation of an aircraft that is not commercial operation;

"the Committee" – the Economics Committee of the Knesset;

"the appeals committee" – the committee appointed pursuant to section 39;

"the Medical Appeals Committee" – the committee appointed pursuant to section 7;

"dangerous goods" – an item, article or substance that may constitute a risk to health, safety, property or the environment, as listed in the Technical Instructions for Dangerous Goods or classified thereunder;

"Interest and Linkage Law" – the Interest and Linkage Law, 5721-1961;

"Military Justice Law" – the Military Justice Law, 5715-1955;

"Civil Aviation Authority Law" – the Civil Aviation Authority Law, 5765-2005;

"Safety Investigation Authority Law" – the Safety Investigation Authority in Aviation Law, 5784-2024;

"Airports Authority Law" – the Airports Authority Law, 5737-1977;

"Aviation Services Licensing Law" – the Aviation Services Licensing Law, 5723-1963;

"soldier" – as defined in the Military Justice Law and also a person to whom the provisions of that Law apply pursuant to section 8(2) or (3) of that Law;

"pilot in command" – the pilot, including a person who flies an unmanned aircraft, who commands the flight and is responsible for its safe conduct, appointed to do so by the aerial operator of the aircraft;

"ATC unit" – a unit providing ATC services, within the meaning of section 26;

"aircraft" – a craft or device capable of being supported in the atmosphere by reactions of the air other than reactions of the air against the earth's surface, excluding gliding craft and excluding any other craft or device determined by the Minister pursuant to section 168(a)(8);

"civil aircraft" – an Israeli aircraft or a foreign aircraft;

"foreign aircraft" – an aircraft registered in a register maintained in a member state, in accordance with the law applicable therein;

"Israeli aircraft" – an aircraft registered in the Registration Register;

"police aircraft" – an aircraft belonging to the Israel Police or an aircraft serving the Israel Police in operational activity and operated pursuant to its direction;

"military aircraft" – an aircraft of the Israel Defence Forces, an aircraft conscripted into the Israel Defence Forces pursuant to the Equipment Registration and Conscription into the Israel Defence Forces Law, 5747-1987, and any other aircraft whose airworthiness, the competency of its crew members and its operation are subject, permanently or temporarily, to the full supervision of the Israel Defence Forces;

"State of Israel aircraft" – an aircraft designated, permanently or temporarily, for governmental service, which is owned by the State of Israel or operated by it, excluding a military aircraft and a police aircraft;

"gliding craft" – any one of the following:

(1)Hang-glider – a non-motorised device comprising a wing held within a rigid frame or wrapping a rigid frame, whose take-off can be effected without power additional to that of the operator and to which the operator is harnessed by means of a harness;
(2)Powered Hang-glider – a hang-glider to which an auxiliary engine is attached or whose operator carries an auxiliary engine on his body and whose flight is not exclusively dependent on the engine;
(3)Paraglider – a non-motorised device comprising a flexible wing whose shape is determined by means of air pressure entering through special openings at the front of the wing, whose take-off can be effected without power additional to that of the operator, the operator being harnessed to it by means of a harness and the device being controlled by means of steering lines;
(4)Powered Paraglider – a paraglider to which a device with an auxiliary engine is attached or whose operator carries an auxiliary engine on his body and whose flight is not exclusively dependent on the engine;
(5)Powered Parachute – a device comprising an engine, an undercarriage and a seat for each glider occupant, to which a flexible wing is attached and whose flight is exclusively dependent on the engine;
(6)a radio-controlled unmanned powered model aircraft, as determined by the Minister, which is used or intended to be used for recreational or sporting purposes;
(7)any other craft or device determined by the Minister pursuant to section 93(c);

"State of Operator" – a state that is a party to the Convention and in which the principal place of business of the aerial operator is situated, and if the aerial operator has no principal place of business – a state that is a party to the Convention and in which the aerial operator's permanent residence is situated;

"State of Registry" – a state that is a party to the Convention in which the aircraft is registered;

"member state" – a foreign state that is a party to the Convention;

"meteorological reporting facility" – a facility for measuring, forecasting or reporting meteorological data for the purposes of civil aviation;

"flight aid facility" – a facility located outside the aircraft and not connected to it, which is used or intended to be used as an aid to flight, including a facility used or intended to be used as an aid to aerial navigation or for the performance of flight procedures, a system that receives data from aircraft or transmits data to them for the purpose of air traffic management, a landing, take-off or taxiing runway, a ground facility for communication with aircraft, a facility for marking and warning lighting for aircraft and a meteorological reporting facility;

"maintenance organisation" – a place where maintenance activities are carried out;

"the Director" – the Director of the Authority, or an employee of the Authority whom the Director has authorised for the purposes of this Law in accordance with the provisions of section 169(a);

"Director of the Safety Investigation Authority" and "Safety Investigation Authority" – as defined in the Safety Investigation Authority Law;

"airstrip" – a land or sea area including any structure, facility or equipment thereon, used or intended to be used, in whole or in part, for the landing, take-off, taxiing or parking of aircraft, and which is not an aerodrome;

"aerial operator" – one of the following, as the case may be:

(1)in commercial operation requiring an aerial operating licence pursuant to this Law – the holder of an aerial operating licence, and in relation to a foreign aircraft in commercial operation requiring a licence equivalent to an aerial operating licence in accordance with the mandatory criteria within the meaning of section 173(a) or pursuant to the laws of the State of Operator – an equivalent licence to an aerial operating licence issued by the State of Operator;
(2)in general operation or in commercial operation that does not require a licence as referred to in paragraph (1) – the owner of the aircraft, a lessee of the aircraft or a person authorised to carry out operation on behalf of either of them;

"operating specifications" – within the meaning of section 18(b) or 173(a1)(5), as the case may be;

"Israel Air Traffic Control Region" (Tel Aviv F.I.R) – the airspace within the territory of Israel and outside the territory of Israel that is subject to Israel's aerial supervision, in which ATC services are provided and whose boundaries are published within the framework of aeronautical information services;

"intoxicating beverage" – a beverage containing alcohol at any concentration whatsoever or a beverage whose alcohol concentration exceeds the concentration determined by the Minister pursuant to section 99(k)(1);

"under the influence of alcohol" – a person in whose body alcohol is present at a concentration exceeding the concentration determined by the Minister pursuant to section 99(k)(2);

"dangerous drug" – as defined in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance [New Version], 5733-1973, excluding a drug determined by the Minister of Health and subject to the conditions determined by the Minister of Health;

"flight crew member" – the holder of a flight crew member licence;

"Registration Register" – the Registration Register maintained pursuant to the provisions of section 59;

"maintenance activities" – activities on an aircraft, on the engine of an aircraft, on its propeller or on aeronautical equipment, required to ensure the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft, including inspection, examination, overhaul, repair, maintenance, preservation, replacement of parts and modification activities, excluding light maintenance;

"Arrest and Search Ordinance" – the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search) [New Version], 5729-1969;

"aeronautical equipment" – any one of the following:

(1)a system, mechanism, instrument, accessory, facility or equipment, including communication and navigation equipment, used or intended to be used in the operation of an aircraft or in control thereof during flight, and intended for installation or carriage in an aircraft or installed or carried therein, provided it does not form part of the airframe, engine or propeller of the aircraft;
(2)equipment for flying an unmanned aircraft;

"physician" – an authorised physician within the meaning of section 2 of the Physicians Ordinance [New Version], 5737-1976;

"Authority physician" – within the meaning of section 169(b);

"aerial operating licence" – within the meaning of Section C of Chapter II;

"licence to operate an aerodrome or airstrip" – within the meaning of Section F of Chapter II;

"manufacturing licence" – within the meaning of sections 52 and 53;

"licence to operate a flight crew member school" – within the meaning of Section B of Chapter II;

"licence to operate a maintenance organisation" – within the meaning of Section D of Chapter II;

"licence to operate an ATC unit" – within the meaning of Section E of Chapter II;

"flight crew member licence" – within the meaning of Section A of Chapter II;

"the Authority" – the Civil Aviation Authority established pursuant to the Civil Aviation Authority Law;

"Airports Authority" – the Airports Authority established pursuant to the Airports Authority Law;

"aerodrome" – an area determined by the Minister pursuant to section 30;

"the Meteorological Service" – the Israel Meteorological Service in the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety;

"aeronautical information services" (A.I.S) – within the meaning of section 84;

"territory of Israel" – the sovereign territory of the State of Israel including its territorial waters strip, including the airspace above that territory;

"ATC services" – air traffic management services comprising supervision and control of air traffic, the provision of aeronautical information or approval of flight plans;

"control" – as defined in the Securities Law, 5728-1968;

"light maintenance" – inspection, maintenance, preservation and replacement of parts activities on an aircraft, which are not complex activities, as determined by the Minister pursuant to section 25;

"Certificate of Airworthiness" – within the meaning of section 63;

"Type Certificate" – within the meaning of section 51;

"noise certificate" – within the meaning of section 64;

"medical certificate" – within the meaning of section 6(a)(1);

"civil infrastructure" – aviation infrastructure intended for use by civil aviation, excluding military infrastructure or police infrastructure;

"police infrastructure" – an airstrip or flight aid facility operated by the Israel Police and intended for use by police aircraft;

"military infrastructure" – any one of the following:

(1)a military aerodrome or airstrip operated by the Israel Defence Forces, including a military aerodrome in which the Airports Authority provides services by virtue of an Order pursuant to section 5(a)(4) of the Airports Authority Law, and the aerial supervision region thereof;
(2)a flight aid facility operated, as a general rule, by the Israel Defence Forces;
(3)airspace allocated to military aviation as referred to in section 80, excluding routes or airspace zones within it that have been allocated for use by civil aviation;
(4)other aviation infrastructure, while it is being used exclusively by the Israel Defence Forces;

"aviation infrastructure" – an aerodrome, airstrip, aerial supervision region and flight aid facility;

"the Minister" – the Minister of Transport and Road Safety.

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Chapter II: Licensing of Persons Engaged in Aviation Professions and Their Obligations

Section A: Flight Crew Members and Crew Members

Flight Crew Member – Licensing Obligation§
2.

No person shall perform a function determined by the Minister, with the approval of the Committee, in connection with the operation of an aircraft, the performance of maintenance operations on an aircraft or the provision of ATC services, including as an instructor for such a function, unless the person holds a licence for that purpose issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section and in accordance with the rating in the licence, the conditions of the licence and the provisions under this Law.

Flight Crew Member Licence§
3.
(a)The Director shall issue a flight crew member licence or rating to an applicant who fulfils the conditions determined by the Minister pursuant to subsection (b), as well as the conditions set out below, as the case may be:
(1)in relation to a position classified at a security classification pursuant to section 5 – the applicant has been determined to have security suitability for that position pursuant to the provisions of that section;
(2)in relation to a licence or rating of a type determined by the Minister pursuant to section 6(a) – the applicant holds an appropriate and valid medical certificate as referred to in that section.
(b)The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may prescribe conditions for the issuance of a flight crew member licence or rating, including provisions on the following matters:
(1)a minimum age requirement or a maximum age requirement;
(2)training, proficiency, knowledge and professional experience required for the purpose of obtaining the licence or rating and the methods for examining them, including examinations that the applicant must pass;
(3)conditions that take into account the criminal record of the applicant.
Approval of a Licence or Rating Issued in a Member State§
4.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2, a person may perform a function as referred to in that section, even without a flight crew member licence, if the person holds a licence for that purpose issued by the competent authority for that purpose in a member State, approved by the Director pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the rating in the licence, the conditions of the licence and the approval, and the provisions under this Law.
(b)The Director shall grant an approval pursuant to subsection (a) to an applicant who fulfils the conditions prescribed by the Minister for the grant of such an approval; in Regulations pursuant to this subsection the Minister may prescribe the procedures for obtaining the approval.
(c)An approval granted pursuant to this section and the holder of such an approval shall be treated, for the purposes of aviation laws, as a flight crew member licence and as a flight crew member, respectively.
(d)A person who considers themselves aggrieved by a decision of the Director pursuant to this section may appeal against it before the appeals committee, and the provisions of section 39 shall apply, with the necessary modifications.
Security Classification and Security Suitability of Flight Crew Members§
5.

The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may determine types of flight crew members and crew members in relation to whom the General Security Service shall fulfil its function pursuant to section 7(b)(3) of the General Security Service Law, 5762-2002, for the purpose of prescribing provisions concerning security classification and determination of security suitability; the provisions of that Law shall apply to the prescription of provisions concerning security classification and determination of security suitability, with the necessary modifications.

Medical Fitness of a Flight Crew Member§
6.
(a)A flight crew member who holds a flight crew member licence or rating, of a type determined by the Minister with the approval of the Committee, shall not perform the crew member's function in accordance with the licence or rating –
(1)unless the crew member holds a valid medical certificate attesting to the crew member's medical fitness to perform the crew member's function in accordance with the licence or rating, issued pursuant to the provisions of this section by the Authority physician or by a physician with training in aviation medicine authorised for the purposes of this section by the Director, on the recommendation of the Authority physician (in this section and in section 7 – an authorised physician), and the crew member acts in accordance with the conditions of that certificate;
(2)if, from the date of issuance of the medical certificate, a change has occurred in the crew member's state of health that may impair the crew member's ability to perform the crew member's function in accordance with the licence or rating, and the flight crew member knows that the change may impair the crew member's ability as aforesaid.
(b)The Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Health, may prescribe provisions on the following matters:
(1)the conditions and procedures for issuing a medical certificate and for determining a person's medical fitness to perform a flight crew member function, pursuant to this section, including the medical examinations required for that purpose, including periodic examinations and review examinations, provided that such examinations shall be performed by the Authority physician or an authorised physician;
(2)types of medical certificates to be issued by the Authority physician or an authorised physician;
(3)the period of validity of a medical certificate and conditions for its expiry;
(4)restrictions and conditions for the use of medicinal drugs as defined in the Pharmacists Ordinance [New Version], 5741-1981, by flight crew members.
(c)Provisions prescribed by the Minister pursuant to subsection (b), with respect to the conditions for issuing a medical certificate and with respect to conditions for its expiry, require the approval of the Committee.
(d)A physician treating a flight crew member who holds a flight crew member licence or rating of a type determined by the Minister pursuant to subsection (a), who knows that the patient is a flight crew member as aforesaid, and who is of the opinion that that flight crew member, when using the licence, may endanger the crew member or others due to the crew member's medical condition, shall report this to the Authority physician or to an authorised physician, and shall inform the flight crew member of the said report.
(e)If a flight crew member has a doubt concerning the crew member's medical fitness to perform the crew member's function, including following an examination by a physician as referred to in subsection (d), the crew member shall refer to an authorised physician for the purpose of clarifying the doubt.
(f)
(1)The Authority physician, an authorised physician or the Medical Appeals Committee may require any person, including a treating physician and a medical institution as defined in the Patient Rights Law, 5756-1996, to provide them with information or a document, in their possession, concerning the state of health of a person whose medical fitness to perform a flight crew member function is being examined, which may affect the determination concerning medical fitness as aforesaid; a person applying for a medical certificate or its renewal shall sign a waiver of medical confidentiality with respect to such information or document;
(2)where the Authority physician, an authorised physician or the Medical Appeals Committee has required information or a document pursuant to paragraph (1), the person so required shall provide them with the information or document within the period specified in the requirement;
(3)the Authority physician, an authorised physician or the Medical Appeals Committee shall not disclose information or a document that came to their possession pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, except to a person authorised to receive it by law or by order of a court;
(4)the provisions of this subsection shall also apply to the State.
Objection and Appeal in Medical Matters§
7.
(a)A person who considers themselves aggrieved by a decision of an authorised physician may lodge an objection against it before the Authority's physician.
(b)A person who considers themselves aggrieved by a decision of the Authority's physician may appeal against it before the Medical Appeals Committee.
(c)
(1)The Minister shall appoint a physician with training and experience in aviation medicine as chairperson of the Medical Appeals Committee, and an authorised physician who satisfies the said conditions to act as their deputy, and shall prepare a list of physicians with training and experience in aviation medicine and physicians who are licensed flight crew members or hold a rating of a type in respect of which a medical fitness requirement has been prescribed pursuant to section 6(a), who are qualified to serve on panels of the Medical Appeals Committee;
(2)The Minister shall prescribe provisions regarding the eligibility conditions for members of the Medical Appeals Committee and regarding the rules of procedure of the appeals committee.
(d)
(1)The Medical Appeals Committee shall hear an appeal under subsection (b) in a panel of three, comprising: the chairperson of the Medical Appeals Committee or their deputy, who shall serve as chairperson of the panel, and two members to be appointed by the chairperson of the panel, with appropriate expertise in the subject matter under consideration in the appeal, from the list referred to in subsection (c)(1);
(2)A Medical Appeals Committee may confirm, annul or vary the decision of the Authority's physician, and may also direct that a further examination be conducted, as it sees fit.
(e)A decision of the Medical Appeals Committee is subject to appeal before an Administrative Affairs Court, on a point of law only.
Prohibition on the Use of Alcohol and Dangerous Drugs§
8.

A flight crew member and a crew member shall not consume an intoxicating beverage whilst performing their duties and shall not perform their duties whilst under the influence of alcohol, or after consuming an intoxicating beverage and before the period of time prescribed by the Minister has elapsed, or when a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in their body.

Additional Obligations, Restrictions and Conditions for the Use of a Flight Crew Member Licence§
9.

Without derogating from the Minister's authority under section 46(a)(3) and (4), the Minister may prescribe obligations to apply to a flight crew member and also restrictions and conditions for the use of a flight crew member licence or a rating prescribed in such a licence, in addition to the obligations, restrictions and conditions set out in this Section, the purpose of which is to ensure the maintenance of the competence, proficiency, knowledge and professional experience required of a flight crew member.

A Flight Crew Member Who Does Not Fully Meet the Requirements of the Convention§
10.
(a)Where a flight crew member does not fully meet the mandatory standards prescribed by the International Aviation Organisation in the Annexes to the Convention pursuant to section 37 of the Convention that apply to a flight crew member of that type, the Director shall specify in the flight crew member licence or the medical certificate of the flight crew member, as the case may be, the non-compliance with the mandatory standards as aforesaid.
(b)A person whose licence or medical certificate contains a note regarding non-compliance pursuant to subsection (a) shall not serve as a crew member in their position on an Israeli aircraft operated in the territory of a member state, except with the approval of the competent authorities of that state.
Obligations of an Employer of a Flight Crew Member§
11.
(a)A holder of an air operator licence, a holder of a licence to operate a flight crew member school, a holder of a licence to operate a maintenance organisation and a holder of a licence to operate an ATC unit shall not employ a person in a position as referred to in section 2, unless that person has presented to them a valid flight crew member licence appropriate for the performance of the position, and if they are a flight crew member of a type prescribed by the Minister pursuant to section 6(a) – also an appropriate and valid medical certificate.
(b)A licence holder as referred to in subsection (a) shall not assign a flight crew member to their position except after verifying that the flight crew member complies with the obligations, restrictions and conditions applicable to them pursuant to section 9, and if a note as referred to in section 10(a) has been specified in their licence or medical certificate – shall not assign them as a crew member in their position on an Israeli aircraft as referred to in section 10(b), except after verifying that approval has been received from the competent authorities as referred to in that section.
Regulations Regarding Crew Members Who Are Not Flight Crew Members§
12.

The Minister may prescribe conditions for the eligibility of crew members who are not flight crew members, for their training and instruction, and also obligations to apply to them in the performance of their duties.

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LawAdministrative Law

חוק הטיס, תשע"א-2011

Aviation Law

Tiyus Law

5771-2011

Israeli Aviation Law

Chok HaTiyus

aircraft regulation

aviation safety

air traffic

civil aviation