SI 2025/379 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 3) Regulations 2025

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2025 No. 379 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 Made - - - - 24th March 2025 Coming into force - - 28th March 2025 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3 by reason of two intended helicopter flights which are due to take place there.

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016(a).

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 and they come into force on 28th March 2025.

Interpretation

2. In regulation 3 the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).

Restricted airspace

3.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (12), for the period beginning at 1030 hours and ending at 1120 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—

(a) 514410N 0004005W,

(b) 514810N 0004155W,

(c) 515150N 0004336W,

(d) 515217N 0004109W,

(e) 514711N 0003334W,

(f) 513758N 0001553W,

(g) 513611N 0001253W,

(h) 513611N 0002453W, and

(i) 514410N 0004005W.

(a) S.I. 2016/765, as amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.

(b) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the same time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).(2) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (12), for the period beginning at 1030 hours and ending at 1120 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—

(a) 515048N 0004926W,

(b) 515150N 0004336W,

(c) 514810N 0004155W,

(d) 514410N 0004005W,

(e) 514738N 0004457W, and

(f) 515048N 0004926W.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (12), for the period beginning at 1030 hours and ending at 1120 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—

(a) 515403N 0004349W,

(b) 515217N 0004109W,

(c) 515150N 0004336W, and

(d) 515403N 0004349W.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (12), for the period beginning at 1040 hours and ending at 1140 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by—

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 520354N 0010931W, and

(ii) 521308N 0012956W,

(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 17 nautical miles centred at 522722N 0014502W between 521308N 0012956W and 521624N 0012352W, and

(c) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 521624N 0012352W,

(ii) 520724N 0010348W,

(iii) 515403N 0004349W,

(iv) 515150N 0004336W,

(v) 515048N 0004926W, and

(vi) 520354N 0010931W.

(5) Paragraphs (1) to (4) do not apply to any aircraft—

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023(a),

(b) making an approach to, or departure from—

(i) London Heathrow Airport whilst under the direction of the London Terminal Control Centre Swanwick or the Air Traffic Control unit at London Heathrow Airport,

(ii) Royal Air Force Northolt whilst under the direction of 78 Squadron Royal Air Force unit Swanwick or the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Northolt, or

(iii) London Luton Airport whilst under the direction of the London Terminal Control Centre Swanwick or the Air Traffic Control unit at London Luton Airport, or

(c) flying in accordance with a clearance issued by—

(i) Farnborough Lower Airspace Radar Service (North), or

(a) S.I. 2023/1101.

2(ii) the Air traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport.

(6) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (12), for the period beginning at 1055 hours and ending at 1150 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by—

(a) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 522704N 0015419W between 522503N 0015644N and 522857N 0015138W,

(b) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 522857N 0015138W, and

(ii) 521624N 0012352W,

(c) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 17 nautical miles centred at 522722N 0014502W between 521624N 0012352W and 521308N 0012956W, and

(d) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 521308N 0012956W, and

(ii) 522503N 0015644W.

(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply to any aircraft—

(a) making an approach to or departure from Birmingham Airport whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport, or

(b) flying in accordance with a clearance issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), for the period beginning at 1510 hours and ending at 1555 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by—

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 522237N 0015907W, and

(ii) 522718N 0015823W,

(b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 5522704N 0015419W between 522718N 0015823W, and 522634N 0015019W, and

(c) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 522634N 0015019W,

(ii) 521648N 0015230W, and

(iii) 522237N 0015907W.

(9) Paragraph (8) does not apply to any aircraft—

(a) making an approach to or departure from Birmingham Airport whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport, or

(b) flying in accordance with a clearance issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport.

(10) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), for the period beginning at 1515 hours and ending at 1615 hours on 28th March 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by—

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 522237N 0015907W,

(ii) 521648N 0015230W, and

(iii) 514002N 0015924W,

(b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 514005N 0020325W between 514002N 0015924W, and 514059N 0020709W, and

(c) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 514059N 0020709W, and 3(ii) 522237N 0015907W.

(11) Paragraph (10) does not apply to any aircraft—

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023(a), or

(b) flying in accordance with a clearance issued by—

(i) the Air Traffic Control unit at Birmingham Airport,

(ii) Royal Air Force Brize Norton Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) South, or

(iii) making an approach to or departure from Kemble Aerodrome whilst in communication with the aerodrome Flight Information Service at that aerodrome.

(12) Paragraphs (1) to (4), (6), (8) and (10) do not apply to any aircraft operated by or on behalf of—

(a) an Emergency Medical Service,

(b) a Police Air Support Unit, or

(c) The King’s Helicopter Flight.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport David J Best Grade 7 24th March 2025 Department for Transport EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Greater London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, Worcestershire Gloucestershire and Wiltshire by reason of two intended helicopter flights which are due to take place there on 28th March 2025.

The Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport agree that it is in the public interest to restrict flying in the vicinity of the relevant areas to avoid disruption to these flights.

These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1101).

The times mentioned in regulation 3 are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same time as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.

(a) S.I. 2023/1101.

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