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S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 242
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Sunderland)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 5th March 2026
Coming into force - - 22nd May 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 intended gathering there
of 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) (Sunderland)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 22nd May 2026.
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 with a
radius of 0.8 of a nautical mile centred at 545240N 0012840W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with—
(a) 1200 hours and end with 2200 hours on 22nd May 2026, and
(b) 0830 hours and end with 2200 hours on 23rd and 24th May 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying with the permission of
Northumbria Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Joe Thompson
Senior Executive Officer
5th 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 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
Herrington Park, Sunderland for the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend that is due to take place there on
22nd to 24th May 2026, inclusive. At the request of Northumbria Police, the Civil Aviation
Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be
restricted in the vicinity of the event for reasons of public safety and security.
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), Northumbia Police may be contacted as
notified.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular
(AIC) 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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