The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Crystal Palace Park, London) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 12th Jun 26

These Regulations establish temporary, strict restrictions on the flight of unmanned aircraft (drones) below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined geographical area encompassing Crystal Palace Park, London, for specific periods between June 26 and July 4, 2026, citing the necessity of public safety and security due to planned large public gatherings like music concerts; the restriction provides exemptions only for aircraft operating under specific permission from the event organizer or those managed by police air support units.

Arguments For

Ensuring public safety and security during large-scale public gatherings for music concerts scheduled at Crystal Palace Park, as determined necessary by the Secretary of State.
Preventing potential conflicts or hazards between unauthorized unmanned aircraft operations and the high volume of people attending the specified events.
Utilizing existing statutory powers under the Air Navigation Order 2016 to manage airspace proactively in the public interest.

Arguments Against

Imposes a blanket restriction on legitimate drone usage in a defined airspace corridor during specific operational hours, which may affect professional users or licensed operators not involved in the events.
Requires coordination and reliance on specific permissions from the 'Festival Republic Crystal Palace Park Events Silver Commander,' potentially creating bureaucratic hurdles for authorized flights.
The restriction uses Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which requires public awareness that the times are one hour behind local British Summer Time (BST).

2026 No. 617

CIVIL AVIATION

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Crystal Palace Park, London) Regulations 2026

Made

10th June 2026

Coming into force

26th June 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 Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).

This introductory section identifies the instrument as The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Crystal Palace Park, London) Regulations 2026, numbered 2026 No. 617 under Civil Aviation law.

The Secretary of State mandated these rules on June 10, 2026, with an enforcement start date of June 26, 2026.

The legal basis for these restrictions is the Secretary of State's decision that they are required in the public interest because a large number of people are expected to gather in the specified area.

The authority for making these rules 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) (Crystal Palace Park, London) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 26th June 2026.

The first substantive regulation names the legislation formally for citation purposes.

It confirms that the restrictions detailed within the document officially begin to take effect on June 26, 2026.

Interpretation

The times referred to in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

This regulation clarifies that any time references used later in the document, specifically in Regulation 3(2), must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

UTC is noted in a footnote as being one hour behind British Summer Time (BST), which is relevant for interpreting the exact operating hours of the restriction relative to local time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 512511N, 0000435W,
(b) 512512N, 0000442W,
(c) 512514N, 0000438W,
(d) 512517N, 0000439W,
(e) 512526N, 0000433W,
(f) 512524N, 0000427W,
(g) 512527N, 0000425W,
(h) 512530N, 0000429W,
(i) 512532N, 0000429W,
(j) 512534N, 0000423W,
(k) 512533N, 0000417W,
(l) 512532N, 0000412W,
(m) 512529N, 0000403W,
(n) 512524N, 0000351W,
(o) 512523N, 0000352W,
(p) 512519N, 0000346W,
(q) 512515N, 0000344W,
(r) 512509N, 0000344W,
(s) 512507N, 0000341W,
(t) 512506N, 0000345W,
(u) 512503N, 0000409W,
(v) 512504N, 0000412W,
(w) 512504N, 0000414W,
(x) 512507N, 0000421W,
(y) 512505N, 0000423W,
(z) 512508N, 0000429W,
(aa) 512509N, 0000431W, and
(bb) 512511N, 0000435W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-
(a) 1200 hours and end with 2259 hours on 26th June 2026,
(b) 1200 hours and end with 2259 hours on 27th June 2026,
(c) 1100 hours and end with 2259 hours on 28th June 2026,
(d) 1200 hours and end with 2259 hours on 3rd July 2026, and
(e) 1100 hours and end with 2259 hours on 4th July 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-
(a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Festival Republic Crystal Palace Park Events Silver Commander, or
(b) being operated by or on behalf of a police air support unit.

Regulation 3(1) dictates the core restriction: no unmanned aircraft may fly underneath 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the specific geographic border defined by the listed geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude points).

Paragraph 3(2) specifies the dates and times (in UTC) when this airspace restriction is active, covering portions of June 26, 27, 28, July 3, and July 4, 2026, generally spanning from early afternoon until late evening.

Paragraph 3(3) lists the exceptions to this ban, permitting flights if they have explicit permission from the named event commander or if the aircraft is being operated by the police air support unit.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

10th June 2026

Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport

This attests to the official nature of the regulations, confirming they were signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport by Karen L Michaels, a Grade 7 official within the Department for Transport, on June 10, 2026.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Crystal Palace Park, London for a number of music concerts that are due to take place there on 26th June to 4th July 2026, inclusive. 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.

The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3)(a), the Festival Republic Crystal Palace Park Events Silver Commander 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, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.

The Explanatory Note, which is not legally binding, confirms the purpose: restricting drones near Crystal Palace Park during music concerts between June 26 and July 4, 2026, due to public safety concerns agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport.

It reiterates that times are UTC, one hour behind BST, and advises that contact details for the event Silver Commander for flight permissions are available as notified.

Finally, it states that full operational details will be communicated through official channels like Briefing Sheets and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), and it provides a contact name and number within the Civil Aviation Authority for any queries.

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