Created an immediate emergency no-fly zone below 4,100 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of Carmarthen.
These Regulations prohibit aircraft from flying below 4,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified circular area centered on Carmarthen, Wales.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued these restrictions in response to an emergency, exempting only those aircraft operating under directions from Dyfed-Powys Police. The measures apply to all civil and private aviation and remain in effect until the emergency is declared over and the instrument is revoked.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The document states that the measures are intended to be of temporary duration, with revocation scheduled once the emergency has passed.
The regulations provide an exception for aircraft operating under the direction of Dyfed-Powys Police, ensuring emergency services maintain operational access.
Arguments Against
The legislation does not specify the nature of the emergency, which may lead to uncertainty for pilots and local residents regarding the necessity of the restrictions.
Civil aviation operators may face sudden disruptions to planned flight paths or commercial activities due to the immediate commencement of the regulations.
The lack of a defined expiration date beyond the passing of the unspecified emergency creates ambiguity regarding when normal airspace access will resume.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations.
It mandates that the rules become legally enforceable at the moment of their signing on 29th July 2026.
Restricted airspace
- No aircraft is to fly below 4,100 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
- These Regulations do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Dyfed-Powys Police.
These sections define the physical boundaries of the restricted airspace, setting a ceiling of 4,100 feet above mean sea level.
This vertical limit is measured from the average level of the ocean surface rather than the ground.
The restriction excludes aircraft managed by Dyfed-Powys Police, allowing law enforcement or authorized emergency responders to operate within the zone.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |---|---|---| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales | 1 nautical miles | 515139N 0041739W |
The Schedule provides the precise geographical coordinates and dimensions for the restricted zone.
It establishes a circular exclusion area with a radius of one nautical mile, centered at latitude 51°51'39"N and longitude 004°17'39"W in Carmarthen.
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