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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. 710
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Knebworth,
Hertfordshire) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 30th June 2026
Coming into force 10th 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 intending 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) (Knebworth,
Hertfordshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 10th July 2026.
Interpretation
2. The times referred to in regulation 3(2) 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 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the following
points—
(a) 515302N, 0001219W,
(b) 515202N, 0001154W,
(c) 515213N, 0001242W,
(d) 515212N, 0001249W,
(e) 515209N, 0001256W,
(f) 515205N, 0001258W,
(g) 515159N, 0001312W,
(h) 515211N, 0001331W,
(i) 515216N, 0001351W,
(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).(j) 515231N, 0001345W, and
(k) 515302N, 0001219W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with—
(a) 1100 hours on 10th July 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 11th July 2026, and
(b) 0700 hours on 11th July 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 12th July 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a
permission issued by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Drone Team.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Karen L Michaels
Grade 7
30th 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
Knebworth, Hertfordshire, for a musical festival that is scheduled to take place there on 10th and
11th July 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is
necessary and in the public interest 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(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), Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and
Hertfordshire Police Drone 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, on telephone number 03301 382515.
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