SI 2025/976 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) Regulations 2025

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2025 No. 976 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) Regulations 2025 Made - - - - 27th August 2025 Coming into force - - 13th September 2025 The Secretary of State has decided that it is in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intending gathering of a large number of persons in the vicinity of Bristol, Somerset. 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) (Bristol) Regulations 2025 and they come into force on 13th September 2025. Interpretation 2. In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b). Restricted airspace 3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.5 nautical miles which is centred at 512624N 0023713W. (2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1)— (a) begin with 1100 hours and end with 1900 hours on 13th and 14th September 2025, (b) begin with 1400 hours and end with 2200 hours on 19th September 2025, and (c) begin with 1030 hours and end with 1830 hours on 20th September 2025. (3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Avon and Somerset Police Service. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 27th August 2025 Department for Transport (a) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant. (b) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Bristol, Somerset where the gathering of a large number of persons is due to take place on 13th to 20th September 2025, inclusive. At the request of the Avon and Somerset Police Service, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of those events for reasons of public safety. The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST). In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3), the Avon and Somerset Police may be contacted as notified. 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. 2