The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 enact immediate, temporary restrictions on unmanned aircraft operations within a half-nautical mile radius of central Golders Green, London, prohibiting flight below 1,300 feet above mean sea level, unless authorized by the Metropolitan Police Service, due to an emergency deemed to affect the public interest.
Arguments For
The primary argument is the immediate necessity to safeguard public interest due to an emergency arising in the specified area of Golders Green, London.
Limiting low-altitude unmanned aircraft flight to 1,300 feet provides a necessary safety buffer and allows emergency services, such as the Metropolitan Police Service, to operate without interference from unauthorized drones.
The regulations are explicitly temporary, designed to be revoked immediately once the emergency situation subsides, minimizing long-term impact on civil aviation.
Arguments Against
Restricting airspace, even temporarily, introduces friction and potential disruption for legitimate commercial and recreational users of unmanned aircraft operating within the defined radius.
The measure relies on a specific, immediate designation of an "emergency" in a specific locale (Golders Green), which may raise concerns about proportionality if the nature and severity of the underlying incident are not publicly detailed.
Any restriction on airspace, no matter how brief, requires strict adherence and enforcement, creating a burden on local law enforcement agencies to monitor compliance during an already strained emergency period.
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 339
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Made ----at 3.55 p.m. on 23rd March 2026
Coming into force with immediate effect
This document establishes a Statutory Instrument, specifically Regulation 2026 No. 339, titled The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026.
It was formally made at 3:55 p.m. on March 23rd, 2026, and came into effect immediately upon its creation.
The Secretary of State for a reason affecting the public interest deems it necessary to restrict flying in the area specified in the Schedule by reason of an emergency having arisen in that area.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The Secretary of State invoked powers because an emergency arose in the area detailed in the Schedule, necessitating restrictions on flying activities in the public interest.
These powers are authorized under Article 239 of the primary legislation, the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Golders Green, London) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section specifies the formal legal title used to reference these Regulations.
It reiterates that the Regulations become effective instantly upon being made.
Restricted airspace
- No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,300 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
- These Regulations do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Metropolitan Police Service.
Regulation 2 prohibits any unmanned aircraft (like drones) from flying under 1,300 feet above sea level within the specific geographical area detailed in the Schedule.
Regulation 3 provides an explicit exemption: the restrictions do not apply if the aircraft operator is following instructions issued by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
At 3.55 p.m. on 23rd March 2026
Joe Thompson Senior Executive Officer Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
The instrument was signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport by Joe Thompson, a Senior Executive Officer, at 3:55 p.m. on the date of enactment.
The accompanying footnote clarifies the legal basis, referring to the Air Navigation Order 2016, noting subsequent amendments, but confirming only those amendments are relevant for legal context.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |---|---|---| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Golders Green, London | 0.5 nautical miles | 513446N 0001227W |
This table defines the exact restricted zone in Golders Green, London.
The defined area is a circle with a radius of half a nautical mile, centered at the coordinates 51 degrees 34 minutes 46 seconds North latitude and 0 degrees 1 minute 22.7 seconds West longitude.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions of an emergency nature on flying in the area specified in the Schedule. They are intended to be of temporary duration and will be revoked as soon as the emergency in question has passed.
The accompanying Explanatory Note confirms that the restrictions are imposed due to an emergency situation in the specified area.
It emphasizes that the regulations are only meant to be temporary and will be repealed once the emergency that caused their introduction has concluded.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
The Schedule itemizes the specific location subject to the prohibitions detailed in Regulation 2 of the instrument.
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