SI 2026/1042 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Diwali Celebrations, Leicester) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 1042 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Diwali Celebrations, Leicester) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 23rd September 2026 Coming into force - - 8th November 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary 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 there of a large number of persons.

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) (Diwali Celebrations, Leicester) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 8th November 2026.

Interpretation

2. The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).

Restricted airspace

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1500 hours on 8th November 2026 and ending with 0200 hours on 9th November 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile which is centred at 523857N 0010713W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Leicestershire Police Counter-UAS Bronze Commander.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 23rd September 2026 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 the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in an area of Leicester, Leicestershire, where the gathering of a large number of persons is due to take place for the Diwali celebrations on 8th and 9th November 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the event for reasons of public safety and security.

The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

In relation to the permission referred to in regulation 3(2), the Leicestershire Police Counter-UAS Bronze Commander may be contacted as notified.

Full details of these Regulations will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation

(NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382515.

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