The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Coventry Arena) Regulations 2026
These Regulations establish temporary flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft near the Coventry Arena between June 4th and June 6th, 2026, as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State for public safety reasons concerning a large planned gathering; the restrictions prohibit flying below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a 0.8 nautical mile radius of the Arena during specified hours unless explicit permission is granted by the West Midlands Police Drone Team.
Arguments For
The primary justification is the necessary restriction of drone flight in the public interest due to a large gathering of persons at the Coventry Arena, ensuring public safety and security.
The restriction is temporary, applying only between specific hours on three specific days (June 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2026), minimizing broader impact on civil aviation procedures.
A clear exemption pathway exists, allowing authorized aircraft (specifically those with permission from the West Midlands Police Drone Team) to operate within the restricted zone, accommodating necessary official activities.
Arguments Against
Imposing a no-fly zone restricts the general freedom to operate unmanned aircraft legally, potentially affecting commercial or recreational users planning operations in the vicinity during the specified dates.
The restriction relies on a specific location (Coventry Arena) and time window, potentially causing logistical issues for businesses or services that rely on drone technology for legitimate activities near that site.
Operating under Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) requires users to adjust for local time (British Summer Time being one hour ahead), introducing a potential point of confusion or error in compliance.
2026 No. 564
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Coventry Arena) Regulations 2026
Made
-
This identifies the instrument as Statutory Instrument number 564 for the year 2026, falling under the category of Civil Aviation; the title confirms these are regulations restricting flying over the Coventry Arena.
28th May 2026
Coming into force
4th June 2026
The instrument was formally made on May 28th, 2026, and became legally effective (came into force) on June 4th, 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 the intended gathering there of a large number of persons.
The responsible Minister, the Secretary of State, concluded that restricting drone flights nearby was necessary for the public interest because a significant number of people are scheduled to gather at the specified location.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The legal authority for creating these regulations comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Coventry Arena) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 4th June 2026.
This section specifies the formal title used when referring to this legislation and reiterates that its effective date is June 4th, 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This regulation clarifies that all time references used later in the rules are based on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the periods beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 2259 hours on each of the 4th, 5th and 6th June 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.8 of a nautical mile centred at 522653N 0012944W.
This is the core regulatory measure, prohibiting unmanned aircraft from flying lower than 1,400 feet above sea level.
This restriction applies daily between 15:00 and 22:59 UTC on June 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2026.
The prohibited zone is defined geographically as a circle with a radius of 0.8 nautical miles around the coordinates 52°26'53" N, 001°29'44" W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the West Midlands Police Drone Team.
This introduces an exception to the general prohibition.
The restriction does not affect any drone operating under a specific permission granted by the West Midlands Police Drone Team.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
28th May 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
The document was officially signed and authorized on May 28th, 2026, by a representative from the 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).
These are footnotes detailing the legal sources cited; footnote (a) references the primary Air Navigation Order and its amendments, while footnote (b) clarifies the relationship between UTC and local British Summer Time (BST), noting that UTC is one hour behind BST.
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 Coventry Arena, West Midlands. At the request of West Midlands 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 due to the intended gathering there of a large number of persons.
This note, which is not legally binding, confirms the purpose: restricting drones near the Coventry Arena in the West Midlands.
The restriction resulted from a police request, agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport, citing concerns over public safety and security related to the planned large event.
The times mentioned in regulations 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This restates that the times specified in Regulation 3(1) use UTC, explaining that this standard time is one hour earlier than the local time observed in the UK during that period (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the West Midlands Police Drone Team may be contacted as notified.
Information regarding who can be contacted concerning permissions mentioned in Regulation 3(2) (the authorized exemption) is available through the West Midlands Police Drone Team, as previously publicized.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
Complete operational details about this legal instrument are being disseminated through standard aviation communication channels, specifically via a Briefing Sheet and a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.
The designated contact person within the Civil Aviation Authority for inquiries is Mr. Thomas Shainberg, who works in the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, providing a specific telephone number for contact.
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