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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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Chapter V: Gliding Craft

Definitions – Chapter V§

85.

In this Chapter –

"operation", in relation to a gliding craft – the flying of a gliding craft, or gliding or hovering by means of such a craft;

"commercial operation", in relation to a gliding craft – the carriage of passengers or the provision of a service by means of a gliding craft, for remuneration, excluding instruction in the operation of a gliding craft.

Airworthiness of gliding craft§

86.

An operator of a gliding craft is responsible for the airworthiness of the gliding craft, inter alia in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, to the extent that such exist, and shall not operate a gliding craft unless the operator has verified its airworthiness as aforesaid.

Gliding craft – licence requirement for instruction and commercial operation§

87.
(a)A person shall not engage in theoretical or practical instruction in the operation of a gliding craft unless that person holds a licence therefor granted by the Director pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the conditions of the licence and the provisions under this Law.
(b)A person shall not operate a gliding craft in commercial operation unless that person holds a licence therefor granted by the Director pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the conditions of the licence and the provisions under this Law.
(c)The provisions of section 38 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the restriction, suspension, revocation of a licence granted pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) and to the refusal to renew it.
(d)The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may prescribe provisions with respect to –
(1)licences granted pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) and with respect to holders of such licences, including with respect to the appropriate training, skills, knowledge and professional experience required for obtaining a licence, the procedures for obtaining or renewing a licence, the period of its validity and the particulars to be included therein, as well as with respect to duties, restrictions and conditions that shall apply to holders of such licences;
(2)types of gliding craft to which the provisions of this section shall not apply.

Types of gliding craft whose operation requires a licence§

88.
(a)The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may prescribe types of gliding craft whose operation requires a licence therefor from the Director, as well as conditions for obtaining the licence, including provisions with respect to the minimum age for obtaining a licence, the appropriate training, skills, knowledge and professional experience required for obtaining the licence, the procedures for obtaining or renewing a licence, the period of its validity and the particulars to be included therein.
(b)A person shall not operate a gliding craft as referred to in subsection (a) unless that person holds a licence therefor granted by the Director pursuant to this section, and in accordance with the conditions of the licence and the provisions under this Law.
(c)The provisions of section 38 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the restriction, suspension, revocation of a licence granted pursuant to this section and to the refusal to renew it.

Prohibition on the use of alcohol and dangerous drugs whilst operating a gliding craft§

89.

An operator of a gliding craft who holds an instruction licence or a commercial operation licence pursuant to section 87, and an operator of a type of gliding craft whose operation requires a licence pursuant to section 88, shall not drink an intoxicating beverage whilst performing their functions as aforesaid or whilst operating a gliding craft, as the case may be, shall not perform their functions and shall not operate a gliding craft whilst under the influence of alcohol, or after having drunk an intoxicating beverage before the period of time determined by the Minister has elapsed, or when a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in their body.

Protective clothing and protective equipment when operating a gliding craft§

90.

A person shall not operate a gliding craft without the protective clothing or protective equipment determined by the Minister; in Regulations under this section the Minister may prescribe provisions according to types of gliding craft and according to types of operations, as well as types of gliding craft to which the provisions of this section shall not apply.

Regulations with respect to the obligation to insure for the purpose of operating a gliding craft§

91.

The Minister, in consultation with the Commissioner of Capital Markets, Insurance and Savings within the meaning of the Financial Services Supervision Law (Insurance), 5741-1981 (in this Law – the Commissioner of Capital Markets), and with the approval of the Committee, may prescribe provisions with respect to the obligation of an operator of a gliding craft to insure the operator's liability for bodily harm and property damage to a third party that may be caused as a result of operating the gliding craft, including with respect to the identity of authorised insurers, including outside Israel, and may prescribe provisions in that manner according to types of gliding craft and according to types of insurance.

Air traffic instructions for gliding craft and conditions for their operation outside activity zones§

92.
(a)The Director may issue air traffic instructions for gliding craft on the following matters:
(1)aerial access to aerodromes of powered gliding craft, their ground movement at aerodromes and their departure from aerodromes;
(2)activity zones for powered gliding craft and routes for transit between such activity zones;
(3)dangerous, restricted or prohibited areas for the operation of gliding craft.
(b)The provisions of section 82(b) to (f) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to the issuance of air traffic instructions for gliding craft pursuant to subsection (a).
(c)The Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Defence, may prescribe conditions for the operation of powered gliding craft outside the activity zones determined pursuant to subsection (a); however, Regulations under this subsection with respect to the protection and identification of gliding craft, or Regulations that may affect the use of the airspace of Israel's aviation control airspace allocated to military aviation pursuant to section 80, shall be made with the consent of the Minister of Defence.
(d)A person shall not operate a gliding craft –
(1)in contravention of the air traffic instructions referred to in subsections (a) and (b), or in contravention of the conditions determined by the Minister pursuant to subsection (c);
(2)unless that person is proficient in the air traffic instructions applying to the airspace adjacent to the activity zone of the gliding craft.
(e)Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an ATC unit may issue instructions to an operator of a gliding craft that are contrary to the air traffic instructions referred to in subsections (a) and (b), to the conditions determined by the Minister pursuant to subsection (c) and to the gliding rules determined pursuant to section 93(a), within the airspace under its control, if it finds that this is justified in the circumstances of the matter; where an ATC unit has issued instructions as aforesaid, a person shall not operate a gliding craft in contravention thereof.

Regulations with respect to gliding craft and their operation§

93.
(a)
(1)For the purpose of maintaining the safety of the operation of gliding craft and the protection of human life and property, the Minister may, in consultation with the Minister of Culture and Sport and with the approval of the Committee, prescribe by Regulations rules for the operation of gliding craft (in this Chapter – gliding rules);
(2)A person shall not operate a gliding craft except in accordance with the gliding rules prescribed pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b)Without derogating from the Minister's power under subsection (a), the Minister may prescribe in the manner referred to in that subsection duties, restrictions and conditions that shall apply to operators of gliding craft and to the infrastructure that shall serve their activity.
(c)The Minister may prescribe that a craft that hovers or is borne in the air, whether powered or not, that is not an aircraft and is not listed in paragraphs (1) to (6) of the definition of "gliding craft", shall be deemed a gliding craft for the purposes of this Law.

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Chapter VI: Inspection Powers

Appointment of inspectors§

94.
(a)The Director may appoint, from among the Authority's employees, inspectors who shall supervise compliance with the provisions under this Law, all or some of them, except for compliance with the provisions under Chapter VII (in this Chapter – the provisions under this Law).
(b)The Director, with the consent of the Director of the Meteorological Service, may appoint, from among the employees of the Meteorological Service, inspectors with respect to compliance with the provisions under this Law relating to meteorology for the purposes of civil aviation.
(c)A person shall not be appointed as an inspector pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) unless all of the following conditions are met:
(1)the Israel Police has notified, no later than three months from the Director's approach to it and receipt of the employee's particulars, that it does not object to the person's authorisation on grounds of public safety, including on account of the person's criminal record;
(2)the person has received appropriate training in the field of powers that will be vested in the person under this Chapter, as directed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Public Security, as well as appropriate training as directed by the Director, and in respect of an inspector appointed pursuant to subsection (b) – as directed by the Director of the Meteorological Service, with the consent of the Director;
(3)the person meets the fitness conditions, to the extent directed by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Security.
(d)A notice of the appointment of an inspector pursuant to this section shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Identification of an inspector§

95.

An inspector shall not exercise the powers vested in the inspector under this Chapter except whilst performing the inspector's functions and when both of the following conditions are fulfilled:

(1)the inspector visibly wears a badge identifying the inspector and the inspector's function;
(2)the inspector holds an inspector's certificate signed by the Director attesting to the inspector's function and powers, which the inspector shall present upon request.

Powers of an inspector§

96.
(a)For the purpose of supervising compliance with the provisions under this Law, an inspector may –
(1)require any person to provide the inspector with that person's name and address and to present an identity card or other official document identifying that person;
(2)require any person concerned to provide the inspector with any information or document that may ensure or facilitate compliance with the provisions under this Law; in this paragraph, "document" – includes a printout as defined in the Computers Law, 5755-1995;
(3)conduct examinations or measurements and take samples for the purpose of examination, and direct that the samples be delivered for laboratory testing or be kept for a period to be directed, or be dealt with in another manner;
(4)enter any place, including an aircraft, provided that the inspector shall not enter a place used for residential purposes except pursuant to a court order, and shall not enter the cockpit during a flight except in coordination with the pilot in command.
(b)An inspector shall not exercise the powers vested in the inspector under this Chapter unless the inspector holds an appropriate security clearance within the meaning of the General Security Service Law, 5762-2002, to the extent that such clearance is required under that Law.
(c)Where the Minister for Public Security is satisfied that it is necessary for the purpose of supervising compliance with the provisions under this Law, the Minister for Public Security may, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, authorise an inspector appointed by the Director pursuant to section 94 also with the powers detailed below, which shall be vested in the inspector in cases where a suspicion arises that an offence under this Law has been committed, except for an offence under section 142(c), provided that an inspector shall not be authorised with such powers unless the inspector possesses the appropriate fitness and training therefor as referred to in section 94(c)(2) and (3):
(1)the power to investigate any person connected to the offence, or who may have knowledge relating to the offence; the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Evidence) shall apply to an investigation under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications;
(2)the power to seize any article connected to the offence; the provisions of Chapter IV of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search) shall apply to a seizure under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications;
(3)the power to apply to a court for a search warrant pursuant to section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search), and to execute it; the provisions of sections 24(a)(1), 26 to 28 and 45 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search) shall apply to a search under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications.
(d)Where a person refuses to comply with the requirements of an inspector acting within the inspector's authority in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 97, and there is a concern that the person will abscond or that the person's identity is unknown, the inspector may detain that person until a police officer arrives, and the provisions of section 75(b) and (c) of the Criminal Procedure Law (Enforcement Powers – Arrests), 5756-1996, shall apply to such detention, with the necessary modifications.

Testing for alcohol and drugs by an inspector§

97.
(a)An inspector may require a flight crew member or a crew member who is about to perform the member's function, who is performing the member's function, or who has just finished performing the member's function –
(1)to provide a sample of air exhaled from the mouth, for the purpose of testing whether alcohol is present in the body and at what concentration, by means of a device approved for this purpose pursuant to section 99(i) (in this Section – a breath sample);
(2)to provide a saliva sample, for the purpose of testing whether a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in the body, by means of a device approved for this purpose pursuant to section 99(i) (in this Section – a saliva sample).
(b)An inspector may exercise the inspector's powers pursuant to subsection (a) even in the absence of a suspicion that an offence under section 142(c)(2) has been committed.
(c)Where an inspector observes a flight crew member or a crew member drinking an intoxicating beverage whilst performing the member's function or during the period before performing the member's function during which the member is required to refrain from drinking an intoxicating beverage pursuant to section 8, or where the inspector finds, on the basis of a breath sample or a saliva sample, that a flight crew member or a crew member is under the influence of alcohol or that a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in the body, the following provisions shall apply, as the case may be:
(1)in respect of a flight crew member or a crew member who is about to perform the member's function – the inspector may prevent that member from performing the member's function;
(2)in respect of a flight crew member or a crew member who is performing the member's function – this shall be sufficient to establish a reasonable suspicion as referred to in section 98(a), and the inspector may prevent that member from continuing to perform the member's function;
(3)in respect of a flight crew member or a crew member who has just finished performing the member's function – this shall be sufficient to establish a reasonable suspicion as referred to in section 98(a).

Testing for alcohol and drugs by a police officer§

98.
(a)Where a police officer has a reasonable suspicion that a flight crew member or a crew member has committed an offence under section 142(c)(2), the police officer may require that member to provide a breath sample, a saliva sample, a urine sample or a blood sample, for the purpose of testing whether alcohol is present in the body and at what concentration or whether a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in the body.
(b)For the purpose of taking a sample pursuant to this section, a police officer is empowered to detain the flight crew member or the crew member from whom the sample is required, for a period as referred to in section 73(b) of the Criminal Procedure Law (Enforcement Powers – Arrests), 5756-1996.
(c)A person shall not be convicted solely on the basis of the result of a saliva sample.

Provisions with respect to the taking of samples§

99.
(a)An inspector or a police officer who requires a flight crew member or a crew member to provide a breath sample, a saliva sample, a urine sample or a blood sample (in this section – a sample), in accordance with the inspector's or police officer's powers pursuant to sections 97 or 98, as the case may be, shall inform that member of the purpose of taking the sample, shall request that member's consent and shall explain the legal significance of a refusal to provide a sample, as referred to in section 100.
(b)The taking of a sample pursuant to sections 97 and 98 shall be carried out in a manner and at a place that ensure the maximum preservation of human dignity, privacy and health, and with the minimum possible harm, discomfort and pain.
(c)The taking of a breath sample or a saliva sample or the provision of a urine sample shall be carried out at the place where the person being tested performs the member's function or is about to perform the member's function, or near such a place; a police officer or an inspector, as the case may be, may direct another place for the taking of the sample, provided that an inspector shall not so direct unless it is required for the fulfilment of the provisions of subsection (b).
(d)The taking of a blood sample shall be carried out by a medical professional as defined in the Criminal Procedure Law (Enforcement Powers – Body Search and Taking of Identification Means), 5756-1996 (in this section – the Search Law), who is lawfully authorised to take a blood sample; the taking of the sample shall be carried out at a place where such samples are customarily taken, including at a police station with clinic conditions.
(e)A medical professional shall ascertain with the person from whom a blood sample is required, before it is taken, the state of that person's health to the extent relevant to the taking of the sample; where a reasonable concern arises that the taking of the sample may harm the health of that person in a manner not arising from the nature of the taking, the medical professional shall not take a blood sample from that person; however, a medical professional who is not a doctor may require that a doctor examine that person, and shall not take a blood sample from that person unless the doctor who examined that person has confirmed that there is no health impediment to taking the sample.
(f)The person taking a sample shall, upon completion of the taking, record a report on the course of the taking and sign it; such a report shall include the following:
(1)the name and identity particulars of the flight crew member or crew member from whom the sample was taken;
(2)the circumstances of the taking of the sample, and the results of its examination, if received at the time of taking;
(3)the date, time and place at which the sample was taken;
(4)the name and qualification or rank, as the case may be, of the person who took the sample;
(5)the name and identity particulars of any person who was present at the time the sample was taken, if any.
(g)A copy of the report referred to in subsection (f) shall be delivered immediately to the person from whom the sample was taken.
(h)The provisions of the Search Law shall not apply to the taking of a sample pursuant to this section.
(i)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Health, may approve, by notice in Reshumot (Official Gazette), a device to be used for obtaining a sample of air exhaled from a person's mouth, for the purpose of testing whether alcohol is present in the body and at what concentration, as well as a device to be used for obtaining a saliva sample from a person's mouth, for the purpose of testing whether a dangerous drug or a metabolite of a dangerous drug is present in the body, and may approve devices for the purpose of taking samples as aforesaid by police officers only.
(j)The Minister and the Minister of Health, with the approval of the Committee, shall prescribe provisions on the following matters:
(1)methods for testing for alcohol or drugs in accordance with the provisions of this section;
(2)the manner of taking samples pursuant to this section, the order of taking them and the manner of testing them, the places of testing and the certificates to be issued in respect of test results;
(3)the manner of operating a device approved pursuant to subsection (i).
(k)The Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Health and with the approval of the Committee –
(1)may prescribe that an intoxicating beverage is a beverage in which the concentration of alcohol exceeds a concentration determined by the Minister; for this purpose, the inscription of the concentration of alcohol on a beverage container shall constitute prima facie evidence of the concentration of alcohol in the beverage;
(2)shall prescribe a maximum rate of alcohol concentration for the purposes of the definition of "under the influence of alcohol".
(l)A court trying an offence under section 142(c)(2) may admit as evidence a certificate issued pursuant to subsection (j)(2).

Refusal to provide a sample§

100.

Where a flight crew member or a crew member refuses –

(1)to provide a breath sample, a urine sample or a blood sample pursuant to a requirement of a police officer as referred to in section 98, except for a refusal on health grounds in the circumstances referred to in section 99(e), that member shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 142(c)(2);
(2)to provide a breath sample or a saliva sample pursuant to a requirement of an inspector as referred to in section 97(a), the provisions of section 97(c)(1), (2) or (3) shall apply to that member, as the case may be.

Testing for alcohol and drugs – application to an operator of a gliding craft§

101.

The provisions of sections 97 to 100 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to an operator of a gliding craft who holds a licence as referred to in section 89, with respect to the performance of the operator's function as an instructor in the operation of a gliding craft or with respect to the operation of a gliding craft, as the case may be.

Aviation Safety Marshals§

102.
(a)The Director, with the consent of a district commander in the Israel Police, may appoint aviation safety marshals; an aviation safety marshal appointed pursuant to this Section may, after presenting his certificate of appointment as an aviation safety marshal and while wearing a conspicuous badge indicating his function, require a person who has violated in his presence a provision of the provisions under this Law to identify himself before him, for the purpose of reporting the matter to the Authority.
(b)
(1)A person shall not be appointed as an aviation safety marshal if he is liable to find himself, directly or indirectly, on a frequent basis, in a situation of conflict of interests between his function and a personal interest of his or another function of his;
(2)If an aviation safety marshal becomes aware that he is liable to find himself, directly or indirectly, on a frequent basis, in a situation of conflict of interests between his function as a marshal and a personal interest of his or another function of his, he shall notify the Director thereof and shall not exercise his powers under this Section;
(3)For the purposes of this subsection, it is immaterial whether the other function is for remuneration or without remuneration;
(4)In this subsection –

"personal interest" – including a personal interest of a relative of his;

"another function" – including another function of a relative of his;

"relative" – a spouse, parent, child, brother or sister, or another person who is a dependant of the aviation safety marshal.

(c)A person shall not be appointed as an aviation safety marshal unless he has received training for the performance of his function as directed by the Director.
(d)An aviation safety marshal shall act in accordance with the Director's directives.
(e)An aviation safety marshal is not entitled to a fee or salary for the performance of his function, and the Authority shall not pay insurance contributions on his behalf under the National Insurance Law [Consolidated Version], 5755-1995, but he is entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of performing his function, at the rates and in the manner determined by the Minister.
(f)The Director may remove an aviation safety marshal from his function even without the consent of a district commander in the Israel Police.
(g)The Minister may prescribe provisions regarding the manner of performance of an aviation safety marshal's function, additional restrictions and eligibility conditions for his appointment, the certificate to be issued to him, the form of the badge he is required to wear and the manner of wearing it.

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