The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026 enact time-limited restrictions on the operation of unmanned aircraft within a specific geographic area around Drax, North Yorkshire, between 0600 hours on April 27th, 2026, and 2259 hours on May 3rd, 2026, forbidding flights below 1,200 feet above mean sea level unless explicit permission is granted by the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team, citing public interest, safety, and security concerns related to a large intended gathering.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety and security reasons due to a large gathering of people in the specified area.
Maintaining control over the airspace during a potentially high-risk period to prevent accidental incursions or misuse of unmanned aircraft.
Establishing a clear, defined temporary no-fly zone legally enforceable under existing Air Navigation Orders.
Arguments Against
Potential restriction on legitimate commercial or recreational drone operations within the affected zone outside of the specified times or altitudes.
Requirement for operators to seek specific permission from the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team, introducing an administrative burden.
Temporary impact on local aerial activities that rely on unrestricted access to that airspace up to 1,200 feet above mean sea level.
2026 No. 454
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026
Made
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23rd April 2026
Coming into force
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27th April 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 ).
These are the preliminary details for Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 454, titled 'The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026', concerning civil aviation.
The document was officially made on April 23rd, 2026, and came into force on April 27th, 2026.
The Secretary of State initiated these regulations because of a large intended public gathering in the specified area, necessitating public interest restrictions on unmanned aircraft (drones).
These powers were exercised under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 27th April 2026.
Regulation 1 names the instrument officially as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the regulations formally became legally effective on April 27th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
Regulation 2 clarifies that all times mentioned in Regulation 3(1), which defines the restriction period, must be interpreted using Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 0600 hours on 27th April 2026 and ending with 2259 hours on 3rd May 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 0.85 of a nautical mile centred at 534415N 0005948W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft being flown in accordance with a permission issued by the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
23rd April 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).
Paragraph 3(1) establishes the primary restriction zone.
No unmanned aircraft can fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) within a defined circular area located near Drax, North Yorkshire. This restriction runs from 06:00 UTC on April 27th, 2026, until 22:59 UTC on May 3rd, 2026.
The centre of the circle is located at coordinates 53°44'15" North latitude and 0°05'9.48" West longitude, with a radius of 0.85 nautical miles.
Paragraph 3(2) provides an exemption: the flight restriction does not apply if the unmanned aircraft is operating under a specific permission granted by the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team.
The section concludes with signature details from the Department for Transport, confirming the legal basis via reference to S.I. 2016/765 and clarifying that UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time (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 Drax, North Yorkshire on 27th April 2026 to 3rd May 2026, inclusive. At the request of North Yorkshire Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in that area for reasons of public safety and security.
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 North Yorkshire Police Drone Team 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, on telephone number 03301 382515.
The Explanatory Note confirms that the Regulations restrict drone use near Drax, North Yorkshire, from April 27th to May 3rd, 2026, inclusive. This action was taken at the request of North Yorkshire Police, and agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport due to public safety and security needs related to a large crowd.
It reiterates that the specified times are in UTC, which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
Guidance is provided that anyone needing permission under Regulation 3(2) should contact the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team, and full operational details will be published via official channels like NOTAMs.
Contact information for the Civil Aviation Authority, including the specific officer and phone number, is provided for enquiries.
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