These Regulations establish temporary, area-specific flight restrictions necessary for public safety during the Royal Aero Club Air Race scheduled to take place near Fishburn Aerodrome on June 20th and 21st, 2026; specifically, they prohibit aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet above mean sea level within precisely defined geographical coordinates during specified time windows, though exceptions exist for certain authorized aircraft and emergency services.
Arguments For
Public safety is addressed by restricting low-level civilian air traffic near a large, organized air race event, minimizing collision risks between race participants and general aviation.
The restriction is temporary and specifically defined by coordinates and limited time slots, suggesting a proportionate regulatory response to a known, scheduled event.
Exemptions are made for essential services, including police, emergency medical services, and the Coastguard, ensuring operational continuity for critical public functions.
Arguments Against
The restrictions impose necessary, albeit temporary, limitations on general civil aviation operations within the specified defined airspace, potentially causing minor diversions or delays for affected pilots.
Defining the restriction based on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) requires pilots to perform a minor time conversion relative to local British Summer Time (BST), introducing a small administrative hurdle.
The need for explicit permission from Race Officials for authorized flights may introduce minor bureaucratic friction for entities not covered by the standard operational exemptions.
2026 No. 467
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Fishburn Air Race) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - | 28th April 2026 | |---------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - | 20th June 2026 |
This document is Statutory Instrument number 467 of 2026, concerning Civil Aviation matters.
It officially sets out the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Fishburn Air Race) Regulations 2026.
The regulations were formally made on April 28th, 2026, and are scheduled to become legally effective on June 20th, 2026.
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding of a Royal Aero Club Air Race.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The responsible Secretary of State determined that restricting air traffic in a specific area is required for the public interest because the Royal Aero Club plans to hold an air race.
The authority for creating these regulations comes from Article 239 of the overarching Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Fishburn Air Race) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 20th June 2026.
This section specifies the official short title for these rules: The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Fishburn Air Race) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the legal commencement date for these rules is June 20th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This short interpretation rule clarifies that all times mentioned within Regulation 3(1) must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2), no aircraft is to fly below 2,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (a) 544222N 0013040W,
- (b) 544339N 0012735W,
- (c) 544207N 0012437W,
- (d) 543947N 0012316W,
- (e) 543806N 0012620W,
- (f) 543808N 0013239W,
- (g) 543925N 0013346W, and
- (h) 544222N 0013040W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1)-
- (a) on 20th June 2026-
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, as amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
- (i) begin with 1045 hours and end with 1215 hours, and
- (ii) begin with 1345 hours and end with 1545 hours, and
- (b) on 21st June 2026-
- (i) begin with 0945 hours and end with 1145 hours, and
- (ii) begin with 1245 hours and end with 1445 hours.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-
- (a) flying with the permission of the Royal Aero Club Records, Racing and Rally Association Race Officials, or
- (b) operated by or on behalf of-
- (i) a Police Air Support Unit,
- (ii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
- (iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Regulation 3 establishes the core restrictions, subject to exceptions in paragraph (3).
Paragraph (1) forbids any aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet above mean sea level within a specific geographical area, which is defined by eight sets of latitude and longitude coordinates, encompassing the Fishburn area.
Paragraph (2) dictates the exact UTC times when this restriction is active across the two event days: on June 20th, restrictions apply from 10:45 to 12:15 and 13:45 to 15:45; on June 21st, they apply from 09:45 to 11:45 and 12:45 to 14:45.
Paragraph (3) lists exemptions, meaning the flight restriction does not apply to aircraft flying with explicit permission from the Royal Aero Club Race Officials, or those operated by Police Air Support Units, Emergency Medical Services, or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
28th April 2026
This signifies the formal endorsement of the regulations by a representative acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, dated April 28th, 2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Fishburn Aerodrome, by reason of the intended holding there of a Royal Aero Club Air Race on 20th and 21st June 2026.
A large number of aircraft will be involved in air racing and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the air race for reasons of public safety.
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 Royal Aero Club Records, Racing and Rally Association Race Officials may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 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.
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
This mandatory note, which has no legal force, confirms the purpose: imposing restrictions near Fishburn Aerodrome due to the scheduled Royal Aero Club Air Race on June 20th and 21st, 2026.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree these restrictions are needed for public safety because many aircraft will be racing.
The note reiterates that times are UTC, one hour behind BST, and provides contact details for authorized persons regarding flight permissions.
Further operational details will be shared via official aviation notices (AIC and NOTAM), with a specific contact point provided at the Civil Aviation Authority.
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