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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. 363
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival,
Leicestershire) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 25th March 2026
Coming into force - - 10th June 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 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) (Download
Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 10th June 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), beginning with 0500 hours on Wednesday 10th June 2026 and
ending with 2259 hours on Monday 15th June 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400
feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile
centred at 524945N 0012237W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by Leicestershire Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
25th 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
Donnington Park, Leicestershire for the Download Music Festival that is due to take place there
on 10th to 15th June 2026, inclusive. At the request of Leicestershire 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(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour
behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permissions mentioned in regulation 3(2), Leicestershire 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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