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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. 659
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Birkdale,
Merseyside) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 18th 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) (Birkdale,
Merseyside) 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), during the period beginning with 0500 hours and ending with
2100 hours on each of the eleven days beginning with 11th and ending with 21st July 2026 no
unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the
following points—
(a) 533837N, 0030237W,
(b) 533807N, 0030121W,
(c) 533730N, 0025959W,
(d) 533653N, 0030028W,
(e) 533556N, 0030156W,
(f) 533639N, 0030416W, and
(g) 533837N, 0030237W.
(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).(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by the Merseyside Police Counter-UAS Team.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
18th June 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
Birkdale, Merseyside on 11th to 21st July 2026, inclusive. The Civil Aviation Authority and the
Department for Transport agree that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of
unmanned aircraft in that area 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 permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the Merseyside Police Counter-UAS
Team 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,
reference: AR-2026-2377.
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