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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. 423
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Epsom) Regulations
2026
Made - - - - 15th April 2026
Coming into force - - 5th 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) (Epsom)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 5th 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 0700 hours and ending with 1900 hours on
each of the 5th and 6th June 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,700 feet above mean sea
level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 511811N
0001511W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft—
(a) flying with a permission issued by the temporary Air Traffic Control Unit at Epsom
Heliport, or
(b) operated by, or on behalf of, Surrey Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
15th April 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 Epsom
Racecourse for the Epsom Downs Derby that is due to take place there on 5th and 6th June 2026.
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
due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
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)(a), the Air Traffic Control unit at
Epsom Heliport 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, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.
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