SI 2026/65 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Brighton) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 65 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Brighton) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 20th January 2026 Coming into force - - 17th 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 gatherings of large numbers of persons at music festivals which are due to take place there. 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) (Brighton) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 17th July 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 unmanned aircraft is to fly below 500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by— (a) straight line joining successively the following points— (i) 504911N 0000800W, and (ii) 504904N 0000723W, and (b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 0.21 of a nautical mile centred at 504904N 0000743W between 504904N 0000723W and 504911N 0000800W. (2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1)— (a) begin with 0900 hours and end with 2300 hours on each of the three days beginning with 17th July 2026 and ending with 19th July 2026, and (b) begin with 0900 hours and end with 2300 hours on each of the four days beginning with 23rd July 2026 and ending with 26th July 2026. (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).(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the event control team. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Joe Thompson Senior Executive Officer 20th January 2026 Department for Transport EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Brighton, East Sussex by reason of the gatherings of large numbers of persons expected to attend music festivals which are due to be held there on 17th to 19th July 2026, inclusive, and on 23rd to 26th July 2026, inclusive. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of the festivals for reasons of public safety. 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), the event control team may be contacted as notified. 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. 2