The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026
The regulations imposed a temporary ban on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,200 feet over a specified area in Castlefield, Manchester, on March 16, 2026, to protect a Royal visit.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026 enacts temporary flight restrictions on unmanned aircraft in an area of Castlefield, Manchester, between 1100 and 1400 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time on March 16, 2026, prohibiting flights below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of specified coordinates, necessary due to a forthcoming Royal visit and agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport for public safety reasons, though exemptions exist for flights authorized by Greater Manchester Police.
Arguments For
Protecting public safety and security during a scheduled Royal visit in a specific area of Manchester.
Providing clear legal authority for police to manage airspace during a high-profile event, ensuring necessary security measures can be implemented effectively.
Maintaining necessary air traffic control standards by addressing temporary, localized airspace incursions posed by unmanned aircraft.
Arguments Against
Imposing absolute flight restrictions limits the legitimate use of drones by commercial entities or hobbyists operating legally in the area immediately prior to and after the specified time window.
The geographic and temporal specificity of the restriction may cause confusion for drone operators unfamiliar with the regulatory zone or event schedule.
Relying on police permission creates an administrative bottleneck, potentially delaying necessary operations requiring immediate authorization.
2026 No. 229
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026
Made
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6th March 2026
Coming into force
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16th 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 an intended Royal visit that is due to take place there.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
This introduces the statutory instrument, designated as 2026 No. 229, concerning Civil Aviation.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026 were officially made on March 6, 2026, and came into force on March 16, 2026.
The Secretary of State asserts that restricting unmanned aircraft (drones) in a defined area is essential for the public interest because a Royal visit is scheduled to occur there.
These Regulations are established using powers granted under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 16th March 2026.
This regulation names the legislation, confirming its official title as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Castlefield, Manchester) Regulations 2026.
It reiterates that the provisions of this legislation officially begin to operate on March 16, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section clarifies that any time references used within Regulation 3(1) must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1100 hours and ending with 1400 hours on 16th March 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at 532842N 0021528W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by Greater Manchester Police.
Regulation 3(1) establishes the core restriction: on March 16, 2026, between 11:00 and 14:00 UTC, unmanned aircraft cannot fly lower than 1,200 feet above sea level within a circular area.
This restricted area has a radius of 0.5 nautical miles centered at geographical coordinates 53°28'42"N 002°15'28"W.
However, Paragraph (2) provides an exemption: this flight restriction does not apply to any unmanned aircraft that has received explicit permission to fly from the Greater Manchester Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
6th March 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 ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This verifies the document's formal signing by an authorized representative of the Secretary of State for Transport on March 6, 2026.
Footnote (a) cites the legal basis, the Air Navigation Order 2016, and notes its subsequent amendment in 2024.
Footnote (b) confirms that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the purposes of these rules.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Castlefield, Manchester due to a Royal visit that is scheduled to take place there. At the request of Greater Manchester Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted for reasons of public safety and security.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same as Greenwich Meantime (GMT).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), Greater Manchester Police 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, and can be contacted on telephone number 03301 382515.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the purpose is to restrict drone flights near Castlefield, Manchester, for a Royal visit, based on an agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport citing public safety and security.
It confirms that the specified times use UTC, which equals GMT.
Guidance is provided that the Greater Manchester Police handle permission requests for exemptions under Regulation 3(2).
Full operational details for this instrument will be distributed through official channels like Briefing Sheets and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
It also names Mr Thomas Shainberg at the Civil Aviation Authority as the contact point for further information regarding the safety and airspace regulation aspects.
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