General Authority of Civil Aviation

The General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia (GACA, Arabic:الهيئة العامة للطيران المدني‎) is the national institution of Saudi Arabia in charge of aviation and related matters, headquartered in central Jeddah.

GACA emerged from the former Presidency of Civil Aviation (PCA, مصلحة الطيران المدني) that was created when the institution controlling aviation was split into a civil department and the Royal Saudi Air Force. The Presidency of Civil Aviation was among others also in charge of the Saudi Arabian Airlines and the Meteorology Department. The Saudi Arabian Airlines was split from the Presidency of Civil Aviation in 1960 and became an independent public institution in 1963. The Meteorology Department became an independent institution with own budget in 1966. The name of the Presidency of Civil Aviation was changed to General Authority of Civil Aviation in 1977.