The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026 establish a mandatory flight restriction for unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centered on specific coordinates near Almondsbury due to security and public safety concerns related to the National Police Air Service base located there; these regulations revoke the previous 2025 equivalent restrictions and exempt aircraft operated by or on behalf of the NPAS or flying under specific NPAS permission, coming into force on May 14th, 2026.
Arguments For
Ensuring the security and public safety associated with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) operations at the Almondsbury location.
Providing clear, legally defined operational airspace limitations for unmanned aircraft through the establishment of a designated restricted area (EGR1U081).
Implementing necessary air traffic restrictions under the powers conferred by the Air Navigation Order 2016, thereby maintaining overall public aviation safety standards.
Revoking an older, potentially superseded restriction (the 2025 Regulations) to formalize the current necessary flight limits.
Arguments Against
Potential imposition of regulatory burden and operational limitation on legitimate users of unmanned aircraft operating near the specified location, requiring specific permissions for otherwise lawful flights.
Necessity for operators to navigate specific permissions granted by the NPAS, which may add administrative time or complexity compared to unrestricted airspace use.
Restriction imposes limitations on the lower altitudes (below 1,300 feet), potentially impacting low-level recreational or commercial drone usage in the immediate vicinity of the NPAS base.
Potential confusion if the restrictions are not clearly disseminated through all relevant channels, including the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
2026 No. 506
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026
Made
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12th May 2026
Coming into force
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14th May 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 2(1) by reason of the security and public safety considerations associated with the location there of the National Police Air Service.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
These are the preamble and enacting clauses for the instrument, detailing that the Secretary of State made these Civil Aviation Regulations on May 12th, 2026, with an effective date of May 14th, 2026.
The authority for these restrictions comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
The reason cited for imposing the flying restriction on unmanned aircraft (drones) is necessity in the public interest concerning the security and public safety linked to the National Police Air Service base at Almondsbury.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 14th May 2026.
The first regulation covers the title of the statutory instrument and confirms its commencement date.
The official title includes the designation of the restricted area as EGR1U081, and the rules legally take effect on May 14th, 2026.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at 513308N 0023335W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-
- (a) operated by or on behalf of the National Police Air Service, or
- (b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the National Police Air Service.
This section defines the specific restricted flight zone.
Unmanned aircraft cannot fly under 1,300 feet above sea level within a half nautical mile radius circle around the precise geographical coordinates stated (51° 33' 08" North, 002° 33' 35" West).
However, this restriction is lifted for any unmanned aircraft that is either run by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) or is flying under an explicit permission granted by the NPAS.
Revocation of Regulations
- The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Zone EGR181) Regulations 2025( b ) are revoked.
This regulation formally cancels the previous set of rules concerning flying restrictions in the Almondsbury area.
Specifically, it revokes the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Zone EGR181) Regulations from 2025.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
12th May 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
( b ) S.I. 2025/169.
This section confirms the signature details, indicating that Karen L Michaels, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, authorized the regulations on May 12th, 2026.
The footnotes provide legal citations for the primary statutory instrument used (Air Navigation Order 2016) and the revoked 2025 regulations.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the National Police Air Service base at Almondsbury.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of security and public safety.
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 2(2)(b), the National Police Air Service may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be included in the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). The restricted area has been designated as EGR1U081 for the purpose of inclusion in the AIP and in related charts and documents.
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.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the purpose is to restrict unmanned aircraft near the NPAS base at Almondsbury, based on agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Transport regarding security and safety.
It directs interested parties on how to seek permission under regulation 2(2)(b) by contacting the NPAS. Furthermore, the restriction details, identified by the code EGR1U081, will be published in the official UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) for public awareness, and it lists a specific CAA contact for further inquiries.
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt’s Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026
The regulations imposed flight limitations on unmanned aircraft below 1,350 feet around the Lippitt's Hill NPAS base, designated as EGR1U082, and revoked the preceding 2025 regulations.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Husbands Bosworth) (Restricted Area EGR2U063) Regulations 2026
The Regulations established a new restricted airspace zone (EGR2U063) below 1,550 feet around the Husbands Bosworth National Police Air Service base, prohibiting unauthorized unmanned aircraft flights and revoking the previous 2025 restrictions.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gatcombe Park) (Restricted Area EGR1U083) Regulations 2026
The Regulations imposed restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,700 feet around Gatcombe Park, designating airspace EGR1U083, effective May 14, 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Carr Gate) (Restricted Area EGR3U053) Regulations 2026
The regulations imposed a height restriction on unmanned aircraft operations near the Carr Gate National Police Air Service base and simultaneously revoked the preceding 2025 restriction order.
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