The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 4) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 24th Apr 26

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State using powers under the Air Navigation Order 2016, impose temporary flight restrictions on aircraft flying below specified altitudes (between 1,500 and 4,000 feet above mean sea level) within eleven distinct geographical areas across parts of North West and South West England and surrounding areas on April 24, 2026, between 11:45 and 14:15 UTC. The restrictions are enacted in the public interest to accommodate an intended helicopter flight and include specific exemptions for certain air traffic control units, emergency services, and scheduled movements at specified airports.

Arguments For

Protecting the safety and unimpeded operation of a necessary, intended helicopter flight scheduled for April 24, 2026.
Ensuring public interest is served by mitigating potential risks or necessary security concerns associated with the specific flight operation.
Establishing strict, time-bound geographical zones with specific altitude limitations to minimize blanket disruption across civil aviation.

Arguments Against

Imposing significant temporary operational restrictions on routine civil aircraft flights across multiple UK regions (including Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Gloucestershire) for a perceived single event.
The complexity of the restrictions, involving eleven separate geographical areas with varying times and altitude limits, may lead to operational confusion and potential non-compliance by unaware aircraft operators.
Potential for disruption to other essential local aviation activities, such as commercial flights near the specified airports (Liverpool, Warton, etc.), despite listed exceptions.

2026 No. 444

CIVIL AVIATION

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 4) 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 areas specified in regulation 3(1) to (11) by reason of an intended helicopter flight which 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 ).

These are Statutory Instrument Regulations numbered 444 of 2026 concerning Civil Aviation.

They were officially made on April 21, 2026, and came into force on April 24, 2026.

The Secretary of State enacted these rules because an upcoming helicopter flight requires flying restrictions in specific areas due to public interest concerns.

The legal authority for creating these restrictions 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) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 4) Regulations 2026, and they come into force on 24th April 2026.

The official short title for this legislation is the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 4) Regulations 2026.

The regulations become legally effective on April 24, 2026.

Interpretation

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

This states that all times mentioned in Regulation 3, which defines the restricted flight zones and times, must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (12) and (17), beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1245 hours on 24th April 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 551637N 0034831W between 551631N 0035253W and 551704N 0034413W, and
(b) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 551704N 0034413W,
(ii) 544151N 0032741W,
(iii) 544008N 0033547W, and
(iv) 551631N 0035253W.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (12) and (17), beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

( a ) S.I. 2016/765, as 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) 544008N 0033547W,
(b) 544151N 0032741W,
(c) 540810N 0031149W,
(d) 540443N 0031115W,
(e) 540414N 0031932W,
(f) 540710N 0032009W, and
(g) 544008N 0033547W.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (12) and (17), beginning with 1215 hours and ending with 1320 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-

(i) 540414N 0031932W,
(ii) 540443N 0031115W, and
(iii) 533603N 0030612W,
(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 533454N 0030327W between 533603N 0030612W and 533328N 0030547W, and
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 533328N 0030547W,
(ii) 533219N 0030530W,
(iii) 533213N 0031406W, and
(iv) 540414N 0031932W.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (17), beginning with 1235 hours and ending with 1320 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 533213N 0031406W,
(b) 533219N 0030530W,
(c) 532814N 0030443W, and
(d) 533213N 0031406W.

(5) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (17), beginning with 1235 hours and ending with 1320 hours on 24th April 2026, 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) 533213N 0031406W,
(b) 532814N 0030443W,
(c) 532656N 0030427W,
(d) 532336N 0031110W,
(e) 532309N 0031205W,
(f) 532338N 0031218W, and
(g) 533213N 0031406W.

(6) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (17), beginning with 1235 hours and ending with 1320 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 532309N 0031205W,
(b) 532336N 0031110W,
(c) 532656N 0030427W,
(d) 532514N 0030412W,
(e) 532330N 0030803W,
(f) 531924N 0030735W, and
(g) 532309N 0031205W.

(7) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (17), beginning with 1235 hours and ending with 1325 hours on 24th April 2026, 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) 532309N 0031205W,
(b) 531924N 0030735W,
(c) 531427N 0030140W,
(d) 531643N 0030921W, and
(e) 532309N 0031205W.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (17), beginning with 1240 hours and ending with 1330 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 531643N 0030921W,
(b) 531427N 0030140W,
(c) 531318N 0025906W,
(d) 530314N 0025457W,
(e) 530623N 0030456W, and
(f) 531643N 0030921W.

(9) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (17), beginning with 1245 hours and ending with 1340 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 530623N 0030456W,
(b) 530314N 0025457W,
(c) 524931N 0024930W,
(d) 524528N 0024734W,
(e) 524403N 0025527W, and
(f) 530623N 0030456W.

(10) Subject to paragraphs (15) and (17), beginning with 1255 hours and ending with 1355 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 524403N 0025527W,
(b) 524528N 0024734W,
(c) 521454N 0023431W,
(d) 521306N 0024213W, and
(e) 524403N 0025527W.

(11) Subject to paragraphs (16) and (17), beginning with 1310 hours and ending with 1415 hours on 24th April 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 521306N 0024213W,
(ii) 521454N 0023431W, and
(iii) 515408N 0021310W,
(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 515339N 0021002W between 515408N 0021310W and 515142N 0021044W,
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 515142N 0021044W, and
(ii) 514140N 0020019W,
(d) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 514004N 0020324W between 514140N 0020019W and 513854N 0020657W, and
(e) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513854N 0020657W, and
(ii) 521306N 0024213W.

(12) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply to any aircraft-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016( a ),
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at-
(i) Prestwick Airport,
(ii) Warton Aerodrome, or
(iii) Liverpool Airport.

(13) Paragraphs (4) to (7) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at-

(a) Warton Aerodrome, or
(b) Liverpool Airport.

(14) Paragraphs (8) and (9) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at-

(a) Warton Aerodrome,
(b) Hawarden Airport,
(c) Liverpool Airport, or
(d) Royal Air Force Shawbury.

(15) Paragraph (10) does not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Shawbury.

(16) Paragraph (11) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) making an approach to, or departure from, Kemble Aerodrome whilst in communication with the Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at that aerodrome, or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by Royal Air Force Brize Norton Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) South.

(17) Paragraphs (1) to (11) do not apply to any aircraft-

(a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
(i) The Scottish Area Control Centre, Prestwick
(ii) Royal Air Force 78 Squadron, Swanwick, or
(iii) London Area Control Centre, Swanwick, or
(b) operated by or on behalf of-
(i) The King's Helicopter Flight,
(ii) a Police Air Support Unit,
(iii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
(iv) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Regulation 3 defines eleven detailed, overlapping, and sequential zones (Areas 1 through 11) where flight restrictions apply on April 24, 2026, defined by precise latitude and longitude coordinates.

These restrictions generally prohibit flying below 4,000 feet, although some lower altitude restrictions apply (3,500 feet, 2,000 feet, and 1,500 feet) in the later stages, between 12:35 UTC and 14:15 UTC.

Each area applies for a specific one-hour window, starting as early as 11:45 UTC and ending at 14:15 UTC, defining boundaries using combinations of circular arcs and straight lines connecting waypoints.

Paragraphs (12) through (17) outline mandatory exemptions to these restrictions.

Numerous exceptions exist, particularly for aircraft with prior permission from ATC units at airports like Liverpool, Warton, and RAF Shawbury, or those involved in pre-existing nuclear facility prohibitions, emergency services, police units, the King's Helicopter Flight, or specific ATC clearances from Prestwick, Swanwick, or RAF Brize Norton.

( a ) S.I. 2016/1003.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

21st April 2026

A footnote clarifies that the Nuclear Installations restriction mentioned refers to Statutory Instrument 2016/1003.

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Dumfries and Galloway, Cumberland, Westmoreland and Furness, Merseyside, Cheshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, by the reason of an intended helicopter flight which is due to take place there on 24th April 2026.

The Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport agree that it is in the public interest to restrict flying in the relevant areas to avoid disruption to this flight.

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) to (11) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

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.

Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport

The Explanatory Note clarifies that the flight restrictions cover a broad corridor across several UK regions, including Dumfries and Galloway, Cumbria, multiple English counties (like Cheshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire), and Welsh areas (Flintshire, Wrexham).

The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport concur that these restrictions are required for public interest reasons concerning the specified helicopter flight.

These rules do not override pre-existing flight prohibitions related to nuclear installations.

The note also confirms that the times used are UTC, which is one hour behind BST, and that further details will be disseminated via NOTAMs. Contact information for the CAA representative is provided.

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