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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. 546
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Isle of Wight)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 19th May 2026
Coming into force - - 17th 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 gathering there of a large number of
persons at the Isle of Wight Festival 2026.
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) (Isle of Wight)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 17th 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 on 17th June 2026 and ending with
1100 hours on 22nd June 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 2,000 feet above mean sea level within
the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 504318N 0011557W.
(2) 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 a permission issued by the Isle of Wight heliport operations manager, or
(c) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying)
(Prisons, and young offender institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023(c).
(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. 2023/1101.Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
19th May 2026 Department for Transport
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in an area to the northeast of Newport, Isle of
Wight, Hampshire due to the intended holding there of the Isle of Wight Festival on 17th to 22nd
June 2026, inclusive.
In view of the significant number of helicopters expected to operate from the temporary heliport,
as well as the large numbers of persons expected to attend the festival, 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(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), the Isle of Wight heliport operations
manager 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 03301 382471.
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