The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 23rd Apr 26

Regulations established temporary flight restrictions below 1,800 feet over a radius around a central point in Gateshead on April 24th, 25th, and early April 26th, 2026, for a multi-agency operation.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026 impose temporary, emergency flight restrictions over a specific area in Gateshead, effective from April 24th to April 26th, 2026, prohibiting aircraft from flying below 1,800 feet above mean sea level due to essential public safety reasons concerning a scheduled multi-agency operation.

Arguments For

Ensures public safety during a sensitive and necessary multi-agency operation scheduled in Gateshead.
Provides legal clarity and enforcement capability for temporarily restricting low-level aviation in the specified zone for a defined period.
Maintains operational security and effectiveness for the agencies involved, minimizing interference from unauthorized aircraft.

Arguments Against

Imposes temporary limitations on the freedom of aviation operations, potentially affecting local aerial work or flights near the restricted radius.
Strict altitude and time restrictions could cause minor disruption to local air traffic patterns during the specified dates, necessitating rerouting or delays.
Relies on the discretion of the Northumbria Police for issuing permissions, which introduces an administrative layer for exempted flights.

2026 No. 438

CIVIL AVIATION

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026

| Made - - - - | 21st April 2026 | |-----------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - - | 24th April 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 a multi-agency operation that is scheduled 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) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026, identified as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 438, pertaining to Civil Aviation matters.

The Secretary of State made these regulations on April 21st, 2026, and they come into force on April 24th, 2026.

The justification for the restrictions is rooted in public interest, necessitated by a planned multi-agency operation in the specified area.

Authority for these rules derives from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 24th April 2026.

The official title for these rules is the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Gateshead) Regulations 2026.

The rules become legally effective starting from 00:00 hours on April 24th, 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

This section clarifies that all time references used within Regulation 3, specifically in paragraph (2), 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 1,800 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile which is centred at 545754N 0013524W.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-

(a) 1700 hours on 24th April 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 25th April 2026, and
(b) 1700 hours on 25th April 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 26th April 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Northumbria Police, 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.

This regulation establishes the restricted zone: flights are banned below 1,800 feet above mean sea level within the area defined by a circle with a 0.5 nautical mile radius, centered at coordinates 54°57'54"N 001°35'24"W. This prohibition is active during two specific UTC time windows: 17:00 UTC on April 24th until 01:00 UTC on April 25th, and 17:00 UTC on April 25th until 01:00 UTC on April 26th.

Exceptions to this flight restriction include aircraft operating under specific permission granted by the Northumbria Police. Furthermore, aircraft belonging to or operating on behalf of Police Air Support Units, Emergency Medical Services, or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are exempt from the temporary ban.

( 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).

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

This part provides footnotes referencing the primary legislation (Air Navigation Order 2016) that was amended to enable these regulations, and clarifies that UTC time is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

The document is officially signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport on April 21st, 2026.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear during a multi-agency operation that is due to take place there on 24th to 26th April 2026, inclusive.

Due to the nature of the operation the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the operation 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 Northumbria Police may be contacted as notified.

Full details of this statutory instrument will be promulgated by 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

The Explanatory Note confirms these regulations restrict flying near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, from April 24th to 26th, 2026, due to a multi-agency task.

Both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport concur that the restrictions are necessary for public safety given the operation's character.

It reiterates that times are UTC, which is one hour behind BST. Details regarding police permission are accessible via Northumbria Police, and the full scope of the instrument will also be announced via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).

Contact information for the Civil Aviation Authority regarding airspace regulation is provided, along with the signatory details from the Department for Transport.

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