The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026 enforce a temporary prohibition on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined area of the Firth of Forth, commencing at 0100 hours UTC on April 19, 2026, and ending at 2300 hours UTC on April 24, 2026, specifically to accommodate the necessary operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier, with exemptions provided for authorized military, police, fire/rescue, or coastguard activities.
Arguments For
Ensuring the safety of essential national defence operations involving a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier operating in the Firth of Forth.
Upholding national security by preventing unauthorized aerial surveillance or interference within the specified operational area.
Establishing a clear, legally enforceable boundary for unmanned aircraft operations during a sensitive military activity.
Mitigating potential risks to both manned military aircraft associated with the carrier and the public below.
Arguments Against
Imposing temporary limitations on the legitimate use of unmanned aircraft (drones) for commercial, recreational, or other purposes within a defined geographical area.
Creating operational complexity for drone users who must be aware of and comply with specific, time-bound airspace restrictions.
Potential for disruption to non-military activities, such as coastal monitoring, surveying, or filming, if alternatives are not readily available.
Relying on a specific time zone convention (UTC) which may require users to undertake conversions from local time (BST) increasing the risk of error.
2026 No. 400
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026
Made
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13th April 2026
Coming into force
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19th 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 operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier which are due to take place there.
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 document establishes The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026, which came into force on April 19, 2026, after being made on April 13, 2026.
The Secretary of State enacted these rules because military operations involving a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier in the Firth of Forth require restrictions on unmanned aircraft (drones) to protect the public interest.
The authority to create these regulations stems from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 19th April 2026.
This regulation specifies the official title of the law as The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Firth of Forth) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the rules became legally effective starting on April 19, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This rule clarifies that any times mentioned within Regulation 3(1) must be understood using Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 0100 hours on 19th April 2026 and ending with 2300 hours on 24th April 2026 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) 560155N 0032844W,
- (b) 560106N 0032431W,
- (c) 560043N 0032420W,
- (d) 560146N 0032036W,
- (e) 555915N 0032045W,
- (f) 555955N 0033001W, and
- (g) 560155N 0032844W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply-
( 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).
- (a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016( a ), or
- (b) to any unmanned aircraft-
- (i) flying in accordance with the permission of the Ministry of Defence, or
- (ii) operated by or on behalf of-
- (aa) the Ministry of Defence,
- (bb) a Police Air Support Unit,
- (cc) a Fire and Rescue Service, or
- (dd) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
This key section imposes the flight restriction: unmanned aircraft cannot fly lower than 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a specific geographic zone in the Firth of Forth.
This restriction applies from 0100 UTC on April 19, 2026, until 2300 UTC on April 24, 2026.
The restricted zone is defined by the seven listed latitude and longitude coordinate points.
Paragraph (2) details exceptions to this ban.
The prohibition does not apply if the flight is already forbidden by existing Nuclear Installations restrictions, or if the unmanned aircraft is operating with Ministry of Defence permission.
It also exempts specific authorized agencies, namely the Ministry of Defence itself, Police Air Support Units, Fire and Rescue Services, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
13th April 2026
This signifies the official signing and authorization of these Regulations by a representative acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport on April 13, 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 the Firth of Forth due to the operations of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier that are due to take place there on 19th to 24th April 2026, inclusive.
At the request of the Ministry of Defence Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of the Firth of Forth for reasons of national defence and security.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1003).
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)(b)(i), the Ministry of Defence 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 David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.
( a ) S.I. 2016/1003.
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
While this section is an explanatory note and not legally part of the Regulations, it clarifies the purpose: restricting drones near the Firth of Forth during Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier activity (April 19–24, 2026) for national defense and security reasons, following an agreement between the Defence Police, CAA, and DfT. It reiterates that existing nuclear site restrictions still apply.
The note confirms UTC is one hour behind BST and directs interested parties on how to seek permission from the Ministry of Defence.
It also specifies that formal notification, including Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), will be issued, and provides contact details at the Civil Aviation Authority for further inquiries.
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