The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 immediately restricts all unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centered on Dinas Powys, Wales, due to an emergency affecting the public interest, though these controls do not apply to aircraft operating under directions from the South Wales Police and are intended to be temporary.
Arguments For
Maintaining public safety and order by quickly establishing a no-fly zone around a specific emergency situation in Dinas Powys as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.
Providing clear, legally enforceable parameters for the restriction, specifically targeting unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet and defining the exact geographical area via coordinates for rapid implementation and enforcement.
Ensuring operational flexibility for law enforcement by explicitly exempting aircraft flying under directions given by South Wales Police, which allows emergency services access or control over the restricted airspace.
Arguments Against
Potential short-term disruption to any essential or authorized drone operations within the specified radius for commercial, infrastructure inspection, or recreational use.
The immediate nature of the regulations (coming into force with immediate effect) might cause confusion or delay for operators unaware of the specific emergency in the Dinas Powys area.
The restrictions are imposed unilaterally by the Secretary of State based on necessity, potentially limiting the immediate scrutiny over the justification for such a significant temporary restriction on airspace use.
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2 0 2 6 No. 398
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
This identifies the document as a Statutory Instrument from 2026, bearing the number 398, and specifies its subject matter as Civil Aviation, formally naming them The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026.
Made
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at 8.00 p.m. on 1st April 2026
Coming into force with immediate effect
These Regulations were officially made by the relevant authority at 8:00 p.m. on April 1, 2026.
Crucially, the rules became legally effective immediately upon issue, meaning they applied instantly.
The Secretary of State for a reason affecting the public interest deems it necessary to restrict flying in the area specified in the Schedule by reason of an emergency having arisen in that area.
The Secretary of State determined that an emergency situation occurred in a specific geographic area, requiring the intervention to restrict air navigation within that zone based on considerations of public interest.
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 power to create these specific emergency flying restrictions is formally derived from Article 239 of the primary legislation known as the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
Regulation 1 confirms the official short title used when referring to the rules—the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dinas Powys, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026—and reiterates that they are effective instantly.
Restricted airspace
- No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 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.
Regulation 2 establishes the core restriction: unmanned aircraft (drones) cannot operate below 1,400 feet altitude over a specific area defined in the Schedule.
This restricted zone is circular, with its boundary, radius, and exact center point precisely detailed in the accompanying table.
- These Regulations do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by South Wales Police.
This exemption clarifies that the imposed flight restrictions do not apply to any unmanned aircraft if they are operating according to specific instructions provided by the South Wales Police force.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
At 8.00 p.m. on 1st April 2026
Joseph Silverman 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.
This section contains the official signatory details: Joseph Silverman of the Department for Transport signed on behalf of the Secretary of State at 8:00 p.m. on April 1, 2026.
A footnote references the enabling legislation, the Air Navigation Order 2016, and subsequent amending instruments.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Dinas Powys, Wales | 0.5 nautical miles | 512638N 0031317W |
Table 1 precisely defines the restricted zone.
The area is named Dinas Powys, Wales, it has a radius of half a nautical mile (0.5 nautical miles), and the geographical center is specified by the coordinates 51°26.38' North latitude and 003°13.17' West longitude.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions of an emergency nature on flying in the area specified in the Schedule. They are intended to be of temporary duration and will be revoked as soon as the emergency in question has passed.
The Explanatory Note confirms these rules are temporary measures instituted due to an emergency in the specified area.
It clarifies that the restrictions will legally cease once the emergency situation that prompted their creation is resolved.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
The Schedule acts as an attachment detailing the boundaries referenced within Regulation 2, which imposes the flying restrictions.
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