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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. 400
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 13th April 2026
Coming into force - - 19th April 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 operations of a Royal
Navy Aircraft Carrier which are 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) (Firth of Forth)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 19th April 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 0100 hours on 19th April 2026 and ending with
2300 hours on 24th April 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea
level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—
(a) 560155N 0032844W,
(b) 560106N 0032431W,
(c) 560043N 0032420W,
(d) 560146N 0032036W,
(e) 555915N 0032045W,
(f) 555955N 0033001W, and
(g) 560155N 0032844W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—
(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).(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying)
(Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016(a), or
(b) to any unmanned aircraft—
(i) flying in accordance with the permission of the Ministry of Defence, or
(ii) operated by or on behalf of—
(aa) the Ministry of Defence,
(bb) a Police Air Support Unit,
(cc) a Fire and Rescue Service, or
(dd) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
13th April 2026 Department for Transport
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the
Firth of Forth due to the operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier that are due to take place
there on 19th to 24th April 2026, inclusive.
At the request of the Ministry of Defence 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
Firth of Forth for reasons of national defence and security.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation
(Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1003).
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 permission mentioned in regulation 3(2)(b)(i), the Ministry of Defence 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 David Ridley, Airspace Regulator,
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.
(a) S.I. 2016/1003.
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