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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. 479
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (State Opening of
Parliament) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 30th April 2026
Coming into force - - 13th May 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 holding of the State Opening of Parliament.
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) (State Opening
of Parliament) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 13th May 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 0800 hours and ending with 1300 hours on
13th May 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded
by a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 512959N 0000731W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—
(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (City
of London) Regulations 2004(c), the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Specified
Area) Regulations 2005(d), or the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Hyde Park)
Regulations 2017(e),
(b) to any aircraft operated by or on behalf of—
(i) a Police Air Support Unit,
(ii) an Emergency Medical Service,
(iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or
(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).
(c) S.I. 2004/2092.
(d) S.I. 2005/964.
(e) S.I. 2017/1300.(iv) The King’s Helicopter Flight, or
(c) to any aircraft—
(i) making an approach to Runway 09 at London City Airport at a height of not less
than 1,500 feet above mean sea level to the west of a line running true north to true
south through 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge) whilst under the direction of
the Air Traffic Control Unit at London City Airport or the London Terminal
Control Centre, Swanwick,
(ii) making an approach to Runway 09 at London City Airport to the east of a line
running true north to true south through 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge)
whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control Unit at London City Airport or
the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick,
(iii) making an approach to or departure from the London Heliport, Battersea to the
west of a line running true north to true south through 512852N 0001018W
(Battersea Bridge) whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control Unit at the
London Heliport or the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick, or
(iv) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Metropolitan Police Service.
(3) All non-standard flight and enhanced non-standard flight clearances(a) contained within the
area specified in regulation 3(1) are withdrawn for the duration of these Regulations.
(4) Helicopter Route H4 within the area specified in regulation 3(1) to the east of 512852N
0001018W (Battersea Bridge) and to the west of 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge) is not
available for the duration of these Regulations.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
30th April 2026 Department for Transport
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying above Central London during the State Opening
of Parliament which is due to take place there on 13th May 2026.
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 and security.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation
(Restriction of Flying) (City of London) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2092), the Air Navigation
(Restriction of Flying) (Specified Area) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/964), and the Air Navigation
(Restriction of Flying) (Hyde Park) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1300).
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour
before British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2)(c)(iv), the Metropolitan Police Service
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) A non-standard flight is a flight that does not follow published routes or notified procedures.
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