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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. 474
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Headcorn)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 29th April 2026
Coming into force - - 26th June 2026
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the
area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding there of flying displays.
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) (Headcorn)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 26th June 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 aircraft is to
fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of
3.5 nautical miles centred at 510924N 0003845E.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with—
(a) 0900 hours and end with 1600 hours on 26th June 2026, and
(b) 0900 hours and end with 1700 hours on each of the two days of 27th and 28th June 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft—
(a) operated by or on behalf of—
(i) a Police Air Support Unit,
(ii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
(iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
(b) flying with the permission of the Headcorn Airshow Event Organiser, or
(a) S.I. 2016/765, as 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).(c) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying)
(Prisons, and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023(a).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
29th April 2026 Department for Transport
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent
during flying displays for the public that are scheduled to take place there on 26th to 28th June
2026, inclusive.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the
Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in
the vicinity of the event for reasons of public safety.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation
(Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales)
Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1101).
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)(b), the Headcorn Airshow Event
Organiser 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 David Ridley, Airspace Regulator,
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 0330 382471.
(a) S.I. 2023/1101.
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