SI 2026/1102 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 8) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 1102 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 8) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 19th October 2026 Coming into force 23rd October 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) to (8) by reason of an intended helicopter flight which 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. 8) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 23rd October 2026.

Interpretation

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

Restricted airspace

3.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd October 2026, 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) 515150.0N 0004336.0W,

(ii) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,

(iii) 514723.0N 0003601.0W,

(iv) 513611.0N 0003622.0W, and

(v) 513611.0N 0004133.0W,

(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 12 nautical miles centred at

512812.0N 0002713.0W between 513611.0N 0004133.0W and 513201.0N 0004525.1W, and

(c) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(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).(i) 513201.0N 0004525.1W,

(ii) 513201.0N 0004536.0W

(iii) 513803.0N 0004450.0W,

(iv) 514226.0N 0004110.0W,

(v) 514409.0N 0004005.0W, and

(vi) 515150.0N 0004336.0W.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd October 2026, 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) 515150.0N 0004336.0W,

(b) 514409.0N 0004005.0W,

(c) 514226.0N 0004110.0W,

(d) 513803.0N 0004450.0W,

(e) 514749.0N 0004354.0W, and

(f) 515150.0N 0004336.0W.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd October 2026, 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) 515445.0N 0004311.0W,

(b) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,

(c) 515150.0N 0004336.0W, and

(d) 515445.0N 0004311.0W.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (12), during the period beginning with 1155 hours and ending with 1250 hours on 23rd October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—

(a) 520235.0N 0003305.0W,

(b) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,

(c) 515258.0N 0003709.0W,

(d) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,

(e) 515445.0N 0004311.0W,

(f) 515535.0N 0004305.0W, and

(g) 520235.0N 0003305.0W.

(5) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (12), during the period beginning with 1155 hours and ending with 1250 hours on 23rd October 2026, 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) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,

(b) 515941.0N 0002619.0W,

(c) 515312.0N 0003549.0W,

(d) 515258.0N 0003709.0W, and

(e) 520038.0N 0002832.0W.

(6) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 23rd October 2026, 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) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,

(b) 520606.0N 0001712.0W,

(c) 515941.0N 0002619.0W, and 2(d) 520038.0N 0002832.0W.

(7) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 23rd October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—

(a) 522420.0N 0000020.0W,

(b) 522105.0N 0000543.0E,

(c) 520606.0N 0001712.0W,

(d) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,

(e) 520235.0N 0003305.0W, and

(f) 522420.0N 0000020.0W.

(8) Subject to paragraph (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1215 hours and ending with 1315 hours on 23rd October 2026 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 524904.0N

0002758.0E between 525002.0N 0002410.0E and 524736.0N 0003118.0E, and

(b) straight lines joining successively the following points—

(i) 524736.0N 0003118.0E,

(ii) 522105.0N 0000543.0E,

(iii) 522420.0N 0000020.0W, and

(iv) 525002.0N 0002410.0E.

(9) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by—

(a) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport,

(b) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Northolt,

(c) the Air Traffic Control unit at London Luton Airport, or

(d) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick.

(10) Paragraphs (4) and (5) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by—

(a) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport,

(b) the Air Traffic Control unit at London Luton Airport, or

(c) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick.

(11) Paragraphs (6) to (8) do not apply to any aircraft—

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Sandringham House) (Restricted Zone EG R219) Regulations 2025(a), or

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

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

(ii) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, or

(iii) the Royal Air Force Marham Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) East.

(12) Paragraphs (1) to (8) do not apply to any aircraft—

(a) operated by or on behalf of—

(i) The King’s Helicopter Flight,

(ii) a Police Air Support Unit,

(iii) an Emergency Medical Service, or

(a) S.I. 2025/276, amended by S.I. 2025/283 and 2025/1027.

3(iv) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or

(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by Royal Air Force 78 Squadron, Swanwick.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 19th October 2026 Department for Transport EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, by the reason of an intended helicopter flight which is due to take place there on 23rd October 2026.

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 this flight.

These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Sandringham House) (Restricted Zone EG R219) Regulations 2025 (S.I.

2025/276, amended by S.I. 2025/283 and S.I. 2025/1027).

The times referred to in regulation 3(1) to (8) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

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 David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.

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