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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. 68
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Birmingham)
Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 28th January 2026
Coming into force - - 15th March 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 intending gathering of a
large number of persons in the vicinity of Birmingham, West Midlands.
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) (Birmingham)
Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 15th March 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 1000 hours and ending with 1700 hours on
15th March 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,000 feet above mean sea level within the
area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points—
(a) 522922N 0015342W,
(b) 522818N 0015442W,
(c) 522730N 0015224W,
(d) 522834N 0015124W, and
(e) 522922N 0015342W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by the West Midlands Police Service.
(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 the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Joe Thompson
Senior Executive Officer
28th 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
Birmingham City centre in West Midlands, where a parade comprising a large number of persons
is due to take place on 15th March 2026. At the request of the West Midlands Police Service, the
Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned
aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of the parade for reasons of public safety.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same
as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the West Midlands Police Service 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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