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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. 646
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Durham)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 16th June 2026
Coming into force - - 11th July 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) (Durham)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 11th July 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), beginning with 0500 hours and ending with 2000 hours on
11th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the
area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.5 nautical miles centred at 544626N 0013434W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by the Durham Constabulary Drone Operations Manager.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
16th June 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
Durham, County Durham, where the annual Durham Miners’ Gala is scheduled to take place. The
Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is necessary to restrict the
flying of unmanned aircraft for reasons of public safety and security due to the intended gathering
there 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 permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the Durham Constabulary Drone
Operations Manager 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, on telephone number 03301 382515.
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