The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Belfast, Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified area of Belfast between 2 August and 9 August 2026.
The restrictions apply during specific daylight and evening hours to protect public safety during the Belfast Fleadh festival.
The mandate applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, though the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Event Silver Commander may grant specific flight permissions within the restricted zone.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measure is required for reasons of public safety and security during the Belfast Fleadh festival.
The document cites article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 as the legal basis for exercising these powers to restrict flight for public interest reasons.
Arguments Against
Licensed drone operators or recreational users may argue that the specific coordinates and Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) references could lead to accidental non-compliance if not correctly translated to local British Summer Time.
Commercial operators may seek clarity on the criteria used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Event Silver Commander when granting or denying exemptions under regulation 3(3).
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Belfast, Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 2nd August 2026.
This section provides the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active as 2 August 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This section clarifies that all times mentioned in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
It reminds readers that UTC is one hour behind the local British Summer Time (BST) used in the United Kingdom during August.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (a) 543621N 0055555W,
- (b) 543618N 0055543W,
- (c) 543615N 0055536W,
- (d) 543614N 0055534W,
- (e) 543605N 0055530W,
- (f) 543558N 0055527W,
- (g) 543546N 0055526W,
- (h) 543545N 0055604W,
- (i) 543552N 0055605W,
- (j) 543555N 0055606W,
- (k) 543601N 0055604W,
- (l) 543609N 0055559W,
- (m) 543611N 0055606W,
- (n) 543614N 0055603W,
- (o) 543612N 0055556W,
- (p) 543614N 0055555W,
- (q) 543618N 0055559W, and
- (r) 543621N 0055555W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-
- (a) 1100 hours and end with 2200 hours on 2nd August 2026,
- (b) 1000 hours and end with 2200 hours on each of the six days beginning with 3rd August and ending with 8th August 2026, and
- (c) 1000 hours and end with 2330 hours on 9th August 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Event Silver Commander.
This section creates a restricted flight zone for drones and other unmanned aircraft defined by 18 geographical coordinates in Belfast.
It prohibits flying below 1,100 feet during specific time windows between 2 August and 9 August 2026.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Event Silver Commander is authorized to grant exemptions to these restrictions.
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