SI 2026/586 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 586 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 3rd June 2026 Coming into force - - 20th 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. 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) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 20th June 2026. Interpretation 2. The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b). Restricted airspace 3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1500 hours on 20th June 2026 and ending with 0900 hours on 21st June 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 1.5 nautical miles centred at 511044N 0014934W. (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft— (a) flying— (i) in accordance with a permission issued by the Wiltshire Police Drone Team, (ii) within the airspace notified as the Salisbury Plain Danger Areas if it does so with a permission issued by the Senior Air Operations Officer at Salisbury Plain Air Operations, or (iii) in accordance with a clearance issued by the air traffic control unit at Ministry of Defence Boscombe Down, or (b) operated by or on behalf of— (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).(i) a Police Air Support Unit, or (ii) an Emergency Medical Service. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 3rd June 2026 Department for Transport EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Stonehenge, Wiltshire during the summer solstice period where there will be a large gathering of persons on both 20th and 21st June 2026. At the request of Wiltshire Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted for reasons of public safety and security. 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)(i) and (ii), the Wiltshire Police Drone Team and the Senior Air Operations Officer at Salisbury Plain Air Operations 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 Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515. 2