The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026
The regulations imposed temporary restrictions on flying below 5,000 feet within a specific radius of Cleethorpes on June 27th and 28th, 2026, for public safety during scheduled flying displays.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026 establish temporary and specific prohibitions on aircraft flying below 5,000 feet mean sea level within a 3 nautical mile radius centered at 533334N 0000115W between 1100 and 1630 hours UTC on June 27th and 28th, 2026, to safeguard the public during flying displays planned for the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day event, allowing exceptions only for flights authorized by the Display Director.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety during high-energy aerial manoeuvres associated with the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day flying displays.
Providing a necessary regulatory framework based on powers derived from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to manage airspace effectively for specific public events.
Establishing clear geographical and temporal boundaries (below 5,000 feet within a 3 nautical mile radius) for the restriction, minimizing disruption outside the critical display area and times.
Arguments Against
Potential minor disruption to routine air traffic operating outside the restricted zone or above 5,000 feet during the specified times.
The administrative burden placed on the Flying Display Director to issue permissions for any necessary flights within the restricted airspace.
Necessity of translating between Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and local time (BST) which may cause slight confusion for some operators if not clearly communicated.
2026 No. 620
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026
Made
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-
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10th June 2026
Coming into force
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27th June 2026
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding there of flying displays.
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 document, numbered 2026 No. 620, presents the statutory instrument titled 'The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026' concerning Civil Aviation matters.
The Secretary of State made these regulations on June 10th, 2026, and they came into force on June 27th, 2026.
The authority enacting these rules determined that restricting air travel in a specified area is required for the public interest because flying displays are planned for that location.
These regulations are created using the legal authority granted by Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 27th June 2026.
The official short title for these rules is established as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day) Regulations 2026.
These rules officially become legally effective on June 27th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
When referencing times within Regulation 3(1) concerning the airspace restriction, the time standard used is Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 1100 hours and ending with 1630 hours on each of the two days of 27th and 28th June 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 5,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 3 nautical miles which is centred at 533334N 0000115W.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day Flying Display Director.
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 5,000 feet above the average sea level within a 3 nautical mile radius circle centered at the coordinates 53 degrees 33 minutes 34 seconds North latitude and 0 degrees 0 minutes 11.5 seconds West longitude.
This prohibition applies daily between 11:00 and 16:30 UTC on both June 27th and June 28th, 2026.
This prohibition has an exception: aircraft operating under formal permission granted by the designated Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day Flying Display Director are exempt from these flying restrictions.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
10th June 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 one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
The document is signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport by Karen L Michaels of the Department for Transport on June 10th, 2026.
Footnote (a) references the primary legislation, the Air Navigation Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/765), noting it has been amended recently.
Footnote (b) clarifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST), which is important for understanding the timing of the no-fly zone.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, during flying displays that are due to take place there on 27th and 28th June 2026.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the displays for reasons of public safety.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day Flying Display Director 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 David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.
This explanatory note clarifies that the regulations implement flight restrictions around Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, specifically for flying displays scheduled on June 27th and 28th, 2026.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport support these restrictions because the aircraft will perform high-energy maneuvers, necessitating restrictions for public safety.
Times specified in the main rule are UTC, which is one hour behind BST. For permissions required under Regulation 3(2), contacts for the Flying Display Director will be notified separately.
Further operational details regarding this Statutory Instrument will be disseminated via official channels, including NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen).
The specific Civil Aviation Authority contact for airspace regulation matters is Mr. David Ridley.
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