The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (East Kirby Airshow) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted airspace zone around East Kirby to ensure safety during scheduled aerial displays.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of all aircraft below 3,800 feet above mean sea level within a specified circular area around East Kirby, Lincolnshire. The restriction applies to a 2-nautical-mile radius centered at 530811N 0000019E on 1 August 2026 between 1100 and 1630 hours UTC. The mandate applies to all aircraft except those granted specific permission by the East Kirby Airshow Flying Display Director.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to scheduled flying displays.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the restrictions are required for public safety because participating aircraft will perform high-energy manoeuvres.
Implementation is authorised under article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016, providing a specific legal basis for temporary airspace control.
Arguments Against
General aviation pilots and local airfield operators may face temporary disruptions to planned flight paths or business activities within the restricted 2-nautical-mile radius.
The use of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the regulations, which sits one hour behind British Summer Time (BST), could lead to timing errors for pilots who fail to adjust for the local time difference.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (East Kirby Airshow) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 1st August 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become active as 1 August 2026.
This allows the legal restrictions to coincide with the date of the scheduled airshow.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This provision clarifies that all time references in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than local British Summer Time. At the time of the event, UTC is one hour behind the local time used by the public.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1100 hours and ending with 1630 hours on 1st August 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 3,800 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles which is centred at 530811N 0000019E.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft operating in accordance with a permission issued by the East Kirby Airshow Flying Display Director.
This section defines the geographical and vertical limits of the flight ban, creating a cylinder of restricted airspace up to 3,800 feet.
It prohibits all unauthorized flight within a two-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates in East Kirby during the afternoon of the event.
Paragraph (2) creates an exemption for specific aircraft.
Pilots who obtain prior permission from the designated Flying Display Director are legally allowed to enter or operate within the restricted zone.
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