See Full Document Text
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 229
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield,
Manchester) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 6th March 2026
Coming into force - - 16th March 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 an intended Royal visit that
is 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) (Castlefield,
Manchester) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 16th March 2026.
Interpretation
2. In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).
Restricted airspace
3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1100 hours and ending with
1400 hours on 16th March 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea
level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at
532842N 0021528W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by Greater Manchester Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
6th March 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 the vicinity of
Castlefield, Manchester due to a Royal visit that is scheduled to take place there. At the request of
Greater Manchester Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree
that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted for reasons of public safety and security.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same
as Greenwich Meantime (GMT).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), Greater Manchester 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 Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator,
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, and can be contacted on telephone number 03301 382515.
2