These Regulations establish temporary restrictions on aircraft flying below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within a 3.5 nautical mile radius of Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent, between June 26th and June 28th, 2026, inclusive, to ensure public safety during scheduled flying displays; the restrictions do not apply to emergency services, specific authorized flights, or areas already subject to prohibitions related to prisons and young offender institutions.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety on the ground and in the air during complex flying displays involving high-energy aircraft maneuvers.
Maintaining clear and predictable airspace for the duration of the scheduled public events at Headcorn Aerodrome.
Providing a necessary legal framework under the Air Navigation Order 2016 to manage temporary airspace hazards for a specific event.
Allowing essential, pre-approved operational flights (emergency services, event organizers) to continue operating safely within the restricted zone.
Arguments Against
Imposing necessary operational constraints on general aviation and commercial air traffic operating near the defined geographic area during the specified dates and times.
Introducing temporary complexity to air traffic control procedures by establishing a mandatory restricted airspace boundary (3.5 nautical miles radius, below 3,500 feet).
Requiring clear communication via Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) to ensure all relevant parties are aware of the temporary change in regulated airspace.
The restriction's reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) may create minor scheduling confusion for pilots operating under local time systems (BST) if not carefully cross-referenced.
2026 No. 474
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Headcorn) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - - | 29th April 2026 | |-----------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - - | 26th June 2026 |
This identifies the legislation as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 474, falling under the Civil Aviation legislative area.
The instrument was formally made on April 29th, 2026, and it officially came into legal effect on June 26th, 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 there of flying displays.
The Secretary of State determined that restricting air traffic in a specific location is necessary to protect the public interest.
This decision was made specifically because of planned flying displays in that defined 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 enacts these rules using the legal authority granted under Article 239 of the existing Air Navigation Order of 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Headcorn) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 26th June 2026.
Regulations formally prescribe their short title as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Headcorn) Regulations 2026.
They confirm that the legal provisions begin to operate on June 26th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This clarifies that all specific times mentioned within regulation 3(2) must be interpreted using 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 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 3.5 nautical miles centred at 510924N 0003845E.
Generally, aircraft are prohibited from flying below 3,500 feet above sea level within a defined airspace.
This restricted area is a circle with a 3.5 nautical mile radius, centered at the specified geographic coordinates (51°09'24" North latitude, 0°38'45" East longitude).
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-
- (a) 0900 hours and end with 1600 hours on 26th June 2026, and
- (b) 0900 hours and end with 1700 hours on each of the two days of 27th and 28th June 2026.
These are the specific times when the flight restrictions outlined in sub-paragraph (1) are in effect, measured in UTC.
On June 26th, the restriction applies from 09:00 to 16:00; for June 27th and 28th, the restriction applies from 09:00 to 17:00 on both days.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-
(a) operated by or on behalf of-
(i) a Police Air Support Unit,
(ii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
(iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
(b) flying with the permission of the Headcorn Airshow Event Organiser, or
(c) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons, and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( a ).
The low-flying restriction has specific exemptions detailed here.
It does not apply to aircraft operated by police air support, emergency medical services, or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It also excludes aircraft flying with explicit permission from the Headcorn Airshow Event Organizer, or flights already prohibited by separate regulations concerning airspace near prisons and young offender institutions.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
29th April 2026
The instrument is officially signed on April 29th, 2026, acting under the delegated authority of the Secretary of State for Transport.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent during flying displays for the public that are scheduled to take place there on 26th to 28th June 2026, inclusive.
This note confirms that the purpose of the Regulations is to place temporary limits on aircraft movements close to Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent.
These restrictions are specifically targeted to cover the public flying displays scheduled across the three days from June 26th to June 28th, 2026.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the event for reasons of public safety.
The justification for the restrictions centers on public safety because the air displays involve aircraft executing complex maneuvers often requiring high energy.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport jointly support the necessity of restricting airspace around the event location.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1101).
The limitations established here do not override pre-existing flight prohibitions.
Specifically, any airspace already restricted under the 2023 regulations concerning prisons and young offender institutions remains prohibited.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
The UTC times used in the regulation are explained in the context of local time.
UTC is positioned one hour earlier than British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3)(b), the Headcorn Airshow Event Organiser may be contacted as notified.
For aircraft seeking permission under the exemption for the Headcorn Airshow Event Organiser (Regulation 3(3)(b)), contact details will be provided through official notifications.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
Comprehensive information regarding this Statutory Instrument will be officially disseminated to the aviation community.
This dissemination will occur through established channels, namely Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 0330 382471.
The specific contact person within the Civil Aviation Authority for inquiries related to this Instrument is provided.
This contact is Mr. David Ridley, an Airspace Regulator within the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, along with his direct telephone number.
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